February 22, 2016
A South Burnett food hamper program and Year 12 students attending local high schools are the latest beneficiaries of the Mayor’s Community Benefit Fund.
The Fund was established in 2012 to assist South Burnett community organisations who do not usually qualify for funding through normal grants channels, but have projects that can assist the region.
It raises money through charity golf days and the annual Mayor’s Gala Ball.
Round 7 of the program closed in mid-January, and fifteen applications totalling $120,936 were received for the $19,000 available.
Today the Fund announced that the two successful applications in the round were from the Wesleyan Methodist Church Community Café and the Jason Rich Foundation.
The Wesleyan Methodist Church Community Café’s applied for $8947 in funding to install a cold room to support their Grace Community Food Hamper program.
The cold room will allow the cafe to increase the type and amount of fresh perishable foods they can keep on hand.
The cafe currently prepares 40 meals and over 200 hampers every week, which are distributed to people in the community who are going through difficult times.
The other successful applicant – the Jason Rich Foundation – will be offering forty-eight Year 12 students the opportunity to complete a Defensive Driving Course that will teach them the skills to stay safe on the road, at a cost of $10,000.
“The cold room for the food hamper program will provide much needed support for those who are in need, and the defensive driving course will provide students with potentially lifesaving skills,” Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said.
“I’m pleased to see the Mayor’s Community Benefit Fund continues to support so many worthwhile projects within our region.”
