Bargara Little Athletics Centre has received a $2200 grant from Coles to buy new sports gear thanks to funds raised through the sale of Coles community chiller bags.
The Little Athletics centre in Bargara is one of more than 200 centres across Australia to receive funding from Coles to replace or expand its sports equipment.
Funds for the grants are raised through the sale of specially-marked chiller bags designed by eight-year-old Lachie Macdonald from Victoria and 11 year-old Charlie De Bruyn from Western Australia.
For every bag sold, 25 cents is directed to the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund to provide sport equipment grants.
Coles state general manager Jerry Farrell said the supermarket was delighted to provide grants to help the Little Athletics centres in locations such as Bargara.
“Thanks to our customers who have bought our range of chiller bags at Coles stores, we have been able to provide over $800,000 in grants for Little Athletics centres around Australia to help them purchase equipment to support activities such as high jump, discus, hurdles and the various running events,” Mr Farrell said.
“The Bargara Little Athletics Centre told us they wouldlike to receive a grant for Tiny Tots and training equipment as well as an electronic starting system and we were delighted to help because we know these are an essential part of Little Athletics to support volunteers and young budding athletes.”
Bargara Little Athletics grants officer Stacey Tindel said the grant would make a big difference to the centre, which needed new equipment to continually provide a high quality and safe weekly experience for its young athletes.
“The Coles grant will have a huge impact on our centre. Being in a regional area we are unable to purchase starting caps locally and freighting these is costly as a dangerous goods charge applies.
“The Coles grant will allow us to purchase a new starting system which not only will be safer and more effective for our volunteers but also provide better recording of times for our athletes.”
In addition to the chiller bags, Coles sells community bags which help to raise funds for SecondBite, Guide Dogs Australia and Clean Up Australia.
All Community Bags were designed by school children as part of a bag design competition.
