Tag: Coles

Guide Dogs’ Nationwide Fundraiser Launched in Coles Chermside

Coles has launched a new campaign for Guide Dogs at its Chermside location, an initiative that has since been rolled out across all Coles supermarkets nationwide. The fundraising drive aims to provide support to Australians affected by low vision or blindness through the work of Guide Dogs.

Read: Chermside Lass Appeals for Gift of Dignity, Choice and Independence for People With Disabilities

Funds raised will help support the work of Guide Dogs across Australia, to support people like retired Occupational Therapist Anne-Marie Caulton from the Gold Coast.

Anne-Marie, who was diagnosed with slow degenerative vision loss at the age of just nine, said having Guide Dog Jerry by her side has given her freedom and independence to thrive and navigate the world around her.

Anne-Marie and guide dog Jerry (Photo supplied)

“I’ve been a Guide Dog Handler for approximately 16 years and Jerry is my third Guide Dog. With him by my side, I can continue my independence and life a life of my choosing. He gives me confidence to explore new places and navigate my day-to-day,” she said.

Photo supplied

Coles will donate 5 cents to Guide Dogs when customers purchase a dog food product in-store and on Coles Online (excluding pet accessories and treatments and to a maximum of $300,000) until May 21.

Photo supplied

In addition to purchasing a participating dog food product at Coles during the campaign, customers can also support Guide Dogs by ‘feeding’ a Donation Dog with loose change at Coles supermarkets or selected Liquorland and First Choice Liquor Market stores year-round.

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Coles Group Head of Culture & Inclusion Katie Wyatt said Coles is delighted to expand its support for Guide Dogs through the new fundraiser. “Together with our customers, Coles has already raised more than $14 million over 40 years…We hope this new campaign will raise further funds and awareness.”

Read: No More Sweet Treats: Cowch Closes After Trying Times

The money raised from Coles Chermside and other stores will allow Guide Dogs to provide their full range of services, from breeding and training Guide Dogs to other inclusive programs supporting independence.

Published 3-May-2024

A Tale of 4 Children and the Hummingbird House

Through the years, Hummingbird House in Chermside has helped hundreds of children with life-limiting conditions. Read all about four children whose lives have been touched and their families helped through their stay at the Hummingbird House.

Clara

Barely two years old when diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, Clara is a little fighter who underwent months of rigorous treatments and tests. When her family learned that her cancer was palliative, they went to stay at Hummingbird House, where they spent her final days and had some quality family time that will be cherished forever. 

Read Clara’s full story

Jack

The van der Giessen family (Photo supplied)

Jack was diagnosed with Anencephaly, a neural tube defect, and passed shortly after being born. His parents, David and Elizabeth van der Giessen were referred to the hospice, which provided the family with care, compassion, and support when they needed it the most.

Read Jack’s full story

Read: New Salvos Housing in Chermside Opens for People At Risk of Homelessness

Johnny

Johnny was diagnosed with Vanishing White Matter Leukodystrophy, a rare genetic disease that affected his motor and cognitive function. The hospice is a very special place for Johnny, because it’s where he can be most free and be himself. He gets to enjoy his art therapy and music therapy at the hospice, helping him develop the skills he loves.

Read Johnny’s full story

McKenzie

McKenzie was a 14-year-old sassy little soul, who suffered from a rare movement disorder caused by a mutated gene known as GNA01. In 2015, she was the seventh person to be diagnosed with GNA01 in the world.

McKenzie spent her last five years at the hospice, where she loved the arts and crafts, the music therapy, the hydrotherapy, discos in the pool, parties, and simply watching the sunsets from the rooftop.

Read McKenzie’s full story

About the Hummingbird House

Photo credit: hummingbirdhouse.org.au

Hummingbird House is the only children’s hospice in Queensland and one of the only three children’s hospices in Australia. 

With more than 5,700 babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions across Queensland, Hummingbird House is a home away from home, providing specialised, paediatric, palliative care services and supporting families.

To help Hummingbird House and the families they support, Coles launched a fundraising program, where customers can purchase $2 donation cards at Coles stores across the state, featuring four unique designs created by Hummingbird House families.

Jack’s Coles token (Photo supplied)

Coles Queensland State General Manager Jerry Farrell said Coles was proud to be entering its ninth year as a fundraising partner with Hummingbird House.

“Our customers and team members have been passionate about supporting Hummingbird House since 2014 when the hospice was just in the planning stages, and over the past eight years we’ve raised $3.5 million together,” he said.

Read: Bushcare Volunteering: Preserving Chermside Hills Reserves for the Future

Coles’ fundraising efforts for the hospice will run until Tuesday 27 September 2022. To see all the specially designed tokens, visit hummingbirdhouse.org.au.