Wednesday, 08 September 2010
DOING your bit to help victims of Christchurch’s devastating earthquake is as simple as rounding up your grocery bill.
New World Whakatane began a quake appeal yesterday on behalf of Red Cross, with owner Dave Trubshoe making the first donation of $1000.
He has challenged other Eastern Bay businesses to match or better it.
Although he did not personally know anyone affected, Mr Trubshoe said many of his staff had friends and family members living in the city.
For him the real impact of the quake hit on Monday night when he heard that every second home had been affected.
“They had been saying that 100,000 homes had been damaged but when they said every other home in the whole district I thought ‘holy hell, that’s a lot of homes’.”
A donation box will be in store from today, where people can deposit money.
Alternatively people buying groceries can make a donation on their bill at the checkout, either by cash, credit card or eftpos. Donation receipts are available.
New World store “champion” Annmaree Lingard said the appeal was going “great guns” already.
The store has set a target of $100,000 and will be putting up a barometer so customers can see the total rising.
Mr Trubshoe said they were happy to acknowledge contributors either through advertising or on the barometer.
Nationally, Foodstuffs had also contributed $100,000 to the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Fund.