Westland Milk Products Donates $1000 of Christmas Cheer to Local Food Bank

Westland Milk Products delivered Christmas cheer to the Hokitika food bank this festive season with $1000 given to the centre by the company thanks to a new initiative by Westland employees. 

Each year, Christmas gifts are given to Westland Milk Products staff in recognition of the value they contribute to the company. But this year, several Westland staff got together and instead opted to donate the value of their gift to disadvantaged groups and raise enough money, along with a generous contribution by the company, to donate $1000 to the local food bank and another $1000 to a good cause in the Philippines.

Westland Milk Products chief executive Rod Quin said credit needed to be given to the small group of staff who took it upon themselves to initiate the scheme.

“We are proud to be able to support this project whereby staff have chosen to forgo their gifts and make the festive season better for those less fortunate than themselves.” 

The Hokitika Food & Skills Centre chairman (name) says the centre was delighted to receive the donation at such an important time of year. “This year, families have experienced unprecedented need for assistance and we are extremely grateful to the Westland Milk Products team who have generously chosen to donate during the Christmas period.”   

The Westland team decided that 50 per cent of the funds be donated to the local Food Bank and the remaining 50 per cent to an overseas cause, specifically one initiated by Alaska Milk in the Philippines.

Alaska Milk, a customer of Westland Milk Products has a policy of working with local disadvantaged people in the Philippines. Its employees actively participate in cause-oriented tasks, including building houses for the homeless in the San Pedro district of Laguna.  

“Westland Milk Products exports a significant amount of product to the Philippines and as such we felt it appropriate to give back to their community,” Quin says.    

Several staff members have come forward saying they would like to take part next year – a promising sign for next year. “We are now hoping to build on what we have achieved this year to donate even more to these good causes in 2012,” Quin says.