Helping hand to Tassie kitchen garden programs

A whopping $97,501 has been raised for Tasmanian schools running the Kitchen Garden Program through activations at Coles supermarkets.

Building on a community partnership model, where all 17 Coles supermarkets on the island partner with a local school, from 31 August until 20 September 2022, customers were able to purchase a $2 donation card while shopping instore and participate in events put on by the stores and schools.

“Coles is proud to support the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and we thank our Tasmanian customers who have given so generously over the three-week campaign. The funds raised will go towards purchasing gardening tools and infrastructure for local school in Tassie.”  

– John Carrington, Coles Regional Manager Tasmania

Customers obviously took Coles Ambassador Curtis Stone’s words to heart: “Coles has always strived to be Australia’s most sustainable supermarket, and the Kitchen Garden Program is a wonderful way to teach the next generation about these important lessons, which they can then take home to their families,” he said. “Just by purchasing a $2 card at the checkout, customers can make a big difference to the education of many kids in Tasmania.”

And what a difference $97,501 will make! Summerdale Primary School tells us the funds raised will be extremely valuable in further enhancing their kitchen garden program, with Ryan Lee, Advance Skills Teacher, indicating how beneficial the partnerships are: “We had a fantastic time working with the team at Coles Meadow Mews. We enjoyed their company as they joined a couple of early childhood classes to lead activities and serve us some delicious fruit.”

“Our goal is for the program to reach more Tasmanian children and teach them how to grow, prepare, cook and enjoy food together with their families in a healthy and sustainable way,” – Stephanie Alexander

While this is our largest campaign with Community Partner Coles in Tasmania, the school-store associations are year-round, creating long-term, sustainable partnerships. In addition to financial support, these collaborations see Coles team members assisting schools and services through a range of initiatives including working bees and maintenance. Whether regular donations of leftover produce to help school worm farms thrive, or staff members swapping supermarket shelves for wheelbarrows for a day, these partnerships are helping Tassie kitchen gardens – and most importantly the next generation – thrive.