Graphic: bb
Independent Grocers of Australia stores are putting the pieces together for a strong November fundraising campaign for the RFDS.
A specially designed children’s jigsaw puzzle will be on hand at 81 stores throughout South Australia and the Northern Territory for customers who donate $2 or more to support the Flying Doctor.
You only have to drop a coin into collection boxes or use one of our new “tap and go” machines being rolled out in stores to get an opportunity to put the fundraising puzzle together.
Greg and Leah Woods have owned the Glenelg East IGA store in Adelaide for the past decade and are looking forward to being part of the campaign after adding a collection box to their checkout just over a year ago.
“Our customers are generous supporters and the collection box fills quickly,” Greg says.
The November event also cements a growing relationship between the community focused IGA stores and the RFDS.
In May last year, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Central Operations unveiled its Independent Grocers of Australia (IGA) branded aeromedical aircraft in recognition of a new, three-year major sponsorship of RFDS in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The $7 million flying intensive care unit, VH-FVE (Foxtrot-Victor-Echo), is one of 75 RFDS aircraft spread across the country.
While all IGA stores are independently owned and operated, Metcash owns the overarching IGA brand.
Metcash general manager SA/NT Matt Roberts says the connection between IGA and the Flying Doctor is strong.
“It’s an alignment of two great brands that sit at the heart of communities across Australia – you can find an IGA store in most of the remote and regional towns that the RFDS fly into day in and day out,” Mr Roberts says.
“The partnership works seamlessly with IGA’s values, which include giving back to the local community, especially at a grass roots level. Collection boxes and the jigsaws in stores will help to keep RFDS front of mind in the public’s eyes and raise much needed funds.”
Corporate sponsorship and funds raised through the major partnership by IGA are being directed to the RFDS capital-raising program for the replacement of new aircraft and medical equipment. There are also two IGA-badged full-sized aeromedical training simulators in SA and NT which are used by RFDS pilots for training and education, as well as community engagement at public events.
