2009 / 2010 GRANTS

As part of our annual distribution of grants in November 2009, The Mackay Foundation gave to the following organisations.

Anglicare

A grant of $2051.62 was made and will help the organisation to continue to deliver generic counselling and support services committed to the well-being of family and community life in the Mackay Whitsunday Region encompassing Sarina, Mackay, communities of the Pioneer Valley and Central Highlands, Proserpine, Airlie Beach, the Whitsundays and Bowen.

River of Life

A grant of $2051.62 was used to help the organisation to run their care service in Mackay including the successful street van ministry, which supplies daily hot meals to the homeless as well as a growing food barn service.

Prescare

A grant of $2051.62 was made to help the organisation to continue to provide quality services to the frail elderly, younger persons with a disability and carers to assist them to continue to thrive in the community of their choice for as long as possible.

Lowana House

A grant of $2051.62 was used to help the organisation continue to provide emergency and relief accommodation for single women in the community.

Adra Australia

A grant of $2051.62 was directed towards a range of Adra Op Shop Mackay projects, including women refuges, at-risk youth intervention, drug and alcohol counselling as well as literacy and job skill training.

St Paul’s Uniting Church

A grant of $1380.91 was used to streamline the food parcel delivery in Mackay to not only support the immediate needs, but also show that someone cares for those less fortunate in the community.

Pregnancy & Parenting Support Program

A grant of $1380.91 was used to assist the group in providing emergency relief vouchers, new born baby packs, nappies, formula and other essential baby requirements for families in need within the Mackay community.

Mackay Aboriginal & Islander Justice of Alternatives Group

A grant of $1380.91 was used to provide much needed items for the organisation to support its members and the community. Items include an urn, sandwich maker, four slice toaster, milkshake maker, food processor, video camera, digital camera, CD player.

The Foundation also made a special distribution of $5736 in April 2010 to The George Street Neighbourhood Centre to assist with emergency relief for those impacted by Cyclone Ului. The distribution was used to deliver 90 food parcels, one nappy parcel as well as medical prescriptions and equipment to over 240 local residents who were left without power after Cyclone Ului.

Back to School 2010

The Back to School program is an initiative run in conjunction with The Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal (FRRR) that assists families in the Mackay region who are struggling to meet the cost of sending their children to school. Recent studies show it costs, on average, $2000 to send one child to primary school per year. The Back to School program provides $50 Target vouchers to purchase essential school items, such as clothing and stationery. The Mackay Foundation works closely with schools in the region to identify families that need this extra assistance.

In 2010, The Mackay Foundation partnered with Souths who generously donated $5000 to match the amount The Foundation received from the FRRR. This resulted in a record $15, 000 worth of vouchers being donated to ten local schools, meaning that more schools and students than ever before benefited from the program. The feedback from recipients is always tremendous and exceptionally grateful.