Farmers' Christmas Fundraising Results

More than $763,000 has been donated to hospice services around the country following the Christmas fundraising campaign supported by all Farmers Departments stores. This is the fifth year that Farmers has supported Hospice donating nearly $3.5Million to help keep services free of charge.

Once again Farmers customers and staff were fully behind the campaign – purchasing the limited edition bauble and making donations to the Tree of Remembrance. 100% of all funds donated in each store remain in the local community, helping to ensure that hospice care remains free of charge for people with life-limiting conditions, their families and whānau.

For the people of the Eastern Bay of Plenty, the donation of $7,773.85 will enable Hospice EBoP to continue providing nurse visits to provide specialist palliative care – ensuring each individual’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs are met and their whanau are given information and support.

From right: Peter Bassett, Hospice EBOP CEO and Jude Wilson, Hospice Board Chair with Anna Meredith, Fundraising Manager thanking the team at Farmers for their fundraising efforts.

Not only did the team at Farmers embrace raising funds for our hospice, they also worked as ambassadors for our services, helping the community to better understand the work we do. The awareness raising that comes from being involved with Farmers is invaluable. The enthusiasm and commitment from all staff and the people of the Eastern Bay of Plenty has contributed to this amazing result.. Thank you so much” explained Peter Bassett, CEO of Hospice EBoP.

Mary Schumacher, CEO of Hospice NZ explains “The support we receive from Farmers is incredible. For five years now the entire Farmers team has embraced supporting hospice at Christmas and alongside their customers continue to make a real difference to people using hospice services throughout NZ. It is humbling to be the beneficiary of such generosity and kindness.”

Michael Power, acting Chief Executive of Farmers and Chief Financial Officer says, “The delivery of a national store-wide approach to our charity campaigns helps build a meaningful opportunity to connect with the community, as our staff work in unison toward a common goal. At Farmers we are extremely proud of the amount raised during our Christmas hospice campaign through a combined effort and generous donations made by our customers, our staff and our business. It’s heart-warming to know the positive difference it will make in our communities.”

About Hospice

Each year, New Zealand hospice services provide care and support for more than 18,000 people and their families and carers, either before or after the death of their loved one. Hospice EBoP cares for almost 300 people per year.

Hospice is a philosophy of care, not a building – most people are cared for in the community.

The concept of care encompasses the whole person - not just their physical needs, but their emotional, spiritual, and social needs as well. This care extends beyond the person who is unwell to also include their family. Support is available both before and after a death.

Irrespective of where a person lives, this philosophy of care does not change and everything provided is free of charge. Whilst free to people using hospice services, it does cost a lot to provide. Every year hospice services cost almost $100 million nationally.

As an essential health service provider, hospice services receive the majority of funding from the Government; but financial support from the community is essential to meet the shortfall – each year hospice services need to fundraise more than $45 million nationally - and locally in the EBoP $500,000 is needed to keep the service free after DHB funding.

About Farmers

As the country’s foremost department store, The Farmers Trading Company has been outfitting New Zealand women, their families and their homes for more than 100 years.

First established by Robert Laidlaw as a catalogue mail order company in 1909, Farmers is now a thriving, modern department store and New Zealand’s leading fashion and home retailer - combining quality and value with an ever-increasing selection of the best local and international brands.

Proudly New Zealand owned, Farmers operates 58 department stores in rural and city locations around the country, providing shoppers with a wide range of women’s, men’s and children’s fashion, health & beauty, homewares, Manchester, appliances, electronics and furniture.

www.farmers.co.nz