New World backing 1,000 acts of community action

New World backing 1,000 acts of community action with $50,000 for school army

8 November 2018

New World supermarkets are donating $50,000 worth of groceries to the Student Volunteer Army’s Spring campaign to help hundreds of communities around New Zealand.

New World is a proud supporter of the SVA’s 2018 Primary School Programme, which was officially launched today at Somerville Intermediate in Howick, by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.

The programme will see more than 32,000 school pupils become one of the SVA’s ‘Community Guardians’, by undertaking volunteer projects to improve their local environment, neighbourhood and public spaces – anything they and their teachers have identified as an area in need of action.

Projects include hosting discos for local elderly residents, cleaning beaches, testing tsunami sirens, compiling packs for refugee families, and making blankets and books for foster children.

New World stores are helping too, giving each of the 1,000 school-based teams a $50 New World voucher to spend on food and drink, to ensure everyone is well fed and watered.

Also providing morning tea for today’s official launch at Somerville Intermediate was Brendon Jones, owner of New World Howick, who says he couldn’t wait to get in behind this project.

“An Army marches on its stomach and little ones especially need good food and healthy drinks to keep energised as they support their local communities. I love how kids are leading the charge and giving up their own time to do something special – we are so proud to be part of this,” says Jones.

Sam Johnson, the inspirational leader of the Student Volunteer Army, says with the Community Guardians initiative now in its second year, it’s heartening to have the additional support of New World stores nationwide.

“In just eight years, the SVA has grown from just a few hundred university students in Canterbury into a national movement involving tens of thousands of Kiwi kids of all ages,” says Johnson.

“All armies need feeding, though, and thanks to New World’s support, our Community Guardians will have the energy they need to make a massive difference during our Spring campaign.”

For more information head to www.sva.org.nz/school-program

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