South Australian retailer OTR is raising funds for the Kickstart For Kids (KSFK) charity through the sale of shopping bags.
Selected OTR stores have the special KSFK bags on sale for $5 each with proceeds going to the not-for-profit charity started seven years ago by CEO Ian Steel.
KSFK runs programs including serving about 40,000 breakfasts to young disadvantaged South-Australian students each week in an effort to ensure that no child goes to school hungry.
“We heard about the selfless work Ian Steel was doing for KSFK and as a proudly South Australian company, we recognise our responsibility to help our community,” OTR Chief Operating Officer Peter Piliouras said.
“Ian and his team do a tremendous and selfless job, making a difference to the lives of so many underprivileged children at some 300 schools across South Australia, and we wanted to be able to help raise awareness and much-needed funds.”
Mr Steel says an estimated 15 per cent of all primary school children in South Australia go to school each day without having eaten breakfast and with no packed lunch in their school bags.
“KSFK provides these meals to children without any government funding or assistance, but relies on the generosity of businesses and the community,” Mr Steel said. “We have more than 500 volunteers who serve the meals, make the sandwiches and mentor the children – and now we are really happy to have the support of OTR.
“It costs just $1,200 to run our program in a school for 12 months, and thanks to the generosity of our partnership with OTR and the generosity of OTR customers, it will help hugely.”
OTR and its parent company, Peregrine Corporation, are strong supporters of charity. Peregrine Corporation recently introduced a ‘Casual Friday’ fundraising initiative that encourages staff to come to work in casual clothes on the last Friday of every month in exchange for a gold-coin donation. In its first month, Peregrine Corporation raised $2,500 for The Leukaemia Foundation SA.
