Telecom steps up to the plate for the Sallies

For immediate release

Wellington, Friday, 12 December 2008
Issued on the Authority of Commissioner Garth McKenzie (Territorial Commander)
The Salvation Army, New Zealand Fiji &Tonga Territory

Telecom steps up to the plate for the Sallies
Telecom New Zealand and its staff have donated more than three tonnes of food to Salvation Army food banks in the past eight weeks.

Salvation Army spokesman Major Robbie Ross says the amount is staggering. The donation of 3.15 tonnes of food equates to more than 260 food parcels at a time when The Salvation Army is struggling to meet demand.

"With food inflation running at 10 per cent and the number of people coming to us for assistance jumping 20 per cent this year, the value of this kind of support cannot be underestimated," he said.

Staff at all Telecom offices made donations and Telecom also made bulk purchases of non-perishable food for the food banks.

Telecom's collection coordinators calculated the total weight based on the known weights of shipments the company bought for the food banks against the amounts of food collected at each office.

Telecom's Sponsorship Manager Alex Milne said: "The food bank project is a simple and practical way we as a company can share in the spirit of giving. It provides immediate assistance to those New Zealanders struggling and is particularly relevant in the run-up to Christmas."

In addition, Telecom is a major sponsor of other Salvation Army projects.

The Salvation Army is greatly appreciative of the help it receives from all of its corporate partners, no matter what the scale of that support is, Major Ross said.

"Without the help of these companies, our work with New Zealand's most marginalised families would have to be scaled back dramatically," he said.

ENDS

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