School gardens, local sports teams, historical societies, kinders, and many more organisations received $45,000 of grants to help them continue to improve their communities.

Metro Cares Community Grants awarded 30 organisations grants of $1500.

The groups were nominated by Metro staff.

“The Community Grants program provides an avenue of support to our employees who invest their time, energy and often their money into creating a more connected community through volunteering. It was wonderful reading through all the applications, we have some truly remarkable team members!” said Ebony Fry, Metro’s Community Investment Coordinator.

Through the grant process, the 30 winners were randomly selected from 58 eligible entries by Metro’s Corporate Responsibility Team.

The diverse range of grant recipients reflects Metro’s diverse range of staff.

Some of the recipients include:

• Te Reo Maioha Ki Poipiripi, a Maori language school who will get new learning materials.
• Croydon Gums Kindergarten, who will use the money for an indigenous garden.
• Richmond Creche and Kindergarten, will buy CCTV cameras.
• Country Fire Authority Broadford Fire Brigade, will buy fire-fighting equipment such as hose fittings and nozzles.
• Northcote Library Food Garden Inc, will buy gardening equipment and supplies, and hold educational workshops on topics such as building bee hotels, keeping worm farms, composting methods, and native planting.