Raising funds to provide Kiwi kids with additional resources and equipment to enjoy while at school takes considerable time and effort in fundraising. For Sheffield Primary School in Mid Canterbury, the Cash for Communities programme delivered a win recently with the school being donated $333.

Nigel Easson, Principal of Sheffield Primary School, says the money will go towards the cost of timber used to build a ga-ga ball pit (a game similar to dodgeball). The materials will be purchased from a local timber company and will be built by volunteers.

With Nigel only moving into the role at Sheffield Primary School from March this year, he has noted how hugely supportive the community is of the school. He therefore wasn’t surprised by the Cash for Communities programme donation knowing how keen local farmers are to help the school. With no caretaker employed at the school, it’s the community who volunteer on a weekly basis to ensure the school’s grounds are maintained.

As businesses deeply rooted in rural communities, PGG Wrightson and Ballance Agri-Nutrients want to keep Kiwi communities thriving. Back in 2011 the companies joined force to create a partnership to help raise funds for local organisations. By purchasing Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser through PGG Wrightson this spring you can keep both your crops and pasture, and your community thriving, through the Cash for Communities programme.

Hamish Milner, PGG Wrightson Rural Supplies Darfield Store Manager, said the uptake by customers to join the Cash for Communities programme is incredibly high with them keen to give back to their local community. 

Every year Hamish and his team make a big effort to ensure all their fertiliser customers are aware of the Cash for Communities programme and get signed up. Hamish either gives customers a call or gets his local Technical Field Representatives and Arable Representatives to discuss with farmers when they’re on-farm.

Other schools have benefited recently from the Cash for Communities programme in Hamish’s area with Springfield and Darfield Primary Schools receiving donations.

What makes the Cash for Communities programme extra special for Hamish is the opportunity to present the donation cheques to the recipients within his own community allowing him to meet and talk with them.

The success of the Cash for Communities programme is due to everyone involved seeing the benefit of this initiative, from the teams at PGG Wrightson and Ballance Agri Nutrients, to their customers and the donation recipients. The recipients enthusiasm and level of appreciation is demonstrated by Nigel, Sheffield Primary School’s Principal, who has invited PGG Wrightson and Ballance Agri Nutrients representatives back to the school to take a look at the ga-ga ball area when its finished as a thank you for the donation.