Fonterra Grass Roots Fund helps support kids living with hearing loss

The charity will use the grant to help with the purchase, training and equipment costs of companion dogs which assist hearing impaired children with their day-to- day lives.

The group is just one of many to benefit from between $500 - $5000 thanks to the latest round of grass roots funding.

Halo Charitable Trust and TKKM o Te Matai were also among the recipients. Halo Trust operates a food rescue program in partnership with Countdown Supermarket in Taupo. They will use their grant to purchase storage bins which will help them transfer leftover food from the supermarket to families in need.

The Upper Selwyn River Restoration Group has received grant to plant more than 1000 native trees and bushes along the Upper Selwyn River.

A total of 1700 community groups and organisations across New Zealand have been supported by the Fonterra Grass Roots Fund since 2013.

Fonterra’s Global Sponsorship Manager Kane Silcock says the fund supports initiatives that enrich people’s lives and benefit their community. “It’s our way of supporting projects and ideas that bring our communities together and make them better, safer, more vibrant places to be, it’s a way to say thanks to the people of New Zealand.”

Those who wish to apply for a grant can do so anytime online. Applications are considered twice a year by Fonterra Grass Roots Fund committee. The committee is made up of Fonterra farmers and staff, and other community representatives.

Learn more about Fonterra Grass Roots Fund, or view full list of Fonterra Grass Roots Fund recipients below.