Local kindergartens and schools from around the country have collected over 65,000 cans in the Wattie’s Cans for Good campaign which took place in November. Wattie’s generously donated additional cans taking the number to over 90,000 cans.
The cans go towards helping The Salvation Army stock up its food banks to assist New Zealanders in need over the busy Christmas period.
“Wattie’s Cans for Good has provided a valuable extra supply of cans that will make a big difference to our food banks as we face additional demand in the lead up to Christmas. The food parcels we provide to our families at this time of year mean they can maintain care for their families while dealing with extra financial struggles. We want to thank the children and schools for their wonderful commitment to Cans for Good,” says Major Pamela Waugh, The Salvation Army’s Secretary for Social Services.
More than 205 kindergartens and schools took part in the week-long campaign, which goes beyond other fundraisers combining collecting for charity with a creative competition and a set of teacher-based resource sheets designed to engage children and teachers, in a fun, team-based experience.
According to Wattie’s Communications Manager Tina Wong, the key concepts of ‘generosity’, ‘giving’ and ‘helping’ are what drive Wattie’s Cans for Good.
“It’s great to see these messages are being clearly demonstrated by all the schools that get involved. Not only by their support and donation of cans but also by the discussions students are having in class, and the positive messaging that comes across in the can creative competition,” says Wong.
Participating schools also had the opportunity to create something out of their donated cans, be it a picture or shape made out of cans or a low-level can-structure.
The winning schools with the most impressive and creative designs for Can Creation were Palmerston North Adventist Christian School (Palmerston North), Eastern Hutt School (Lower Hutt), Ashgrove School (Rangiora), Chapel Hill Kindergarten (Hamilton), and Green Bay School (Auckland) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_1pgycRBhk. The winners will receive a $500 voucher to put towards art or school supplies.
The winning schools for the can label creation and design were Paroa School (Greymouth), Longford Intermediate (Gore), and Aparima College (Riverton) who each receive a case of Wattie’s Peaches labelled with their winning design, a case of Wattie’s Tomato Sauce and a $100 voucher to put towards art or school supplies.