From a mental health awareness program, to food security projects and much-needed facility upgrades – over $220,000 will be donated by GrainCorp this month to worthy causes in Australia and New Zealand.

The GrainCorp Community Foundation provides grants to organisations and projects that have a positive economic, social and cultural impact, with two funding rounds held each year.

“We appreciate how important volunteer-led community groups are for the social wellbeing of the communities in which GrainCorp operates,” says Kyle Docherty, Community Engagement Manager.

“To be able to contribute to 26 groups in the first of two funding rounds this year is exciting and a recognition of the passionate people involved in each initiative.”

‘You are not alone’ (YRNA), a youth mental health organisation in Queensland, is one of the funding recipients set to benefit from the GrainCorp Community Foundation.

The organisation has reached over 10,000 school-aged children since 2021, and will use the funding to expand the program to regional and remote parts of Queensland and New South Wales.

Elsewhere, Food Rescue Central West have received a grant to support the provision of low-cost and nutritious food for vulnerable and disadvantaged people across the region in NSW.

GrainCorp Community Grant recipients (February 2024)

Organisation Name	Project/Program	Location
Quambatook Bowling Club	Facility upgrades	Quambatook, VIC
Beulah and District Swimming Pool	Shade upgrade project	Beulah, VIC
Penshurst Football Netball Club	Lighting upgrades	Penshurst, VIC
Ardlethan Recreation Reserve	Kitchen facility refresh	Ardlethan NSW
Carrington Public School	Library revitalisation	Carrington, NSW
Mitiamo Golf Club	Mower replacement	Mitiamo, VIC
Can Assist Harden-Murrumburrah	Cans for Can Assist Harden-Murrumburrah	Harden, NSW
Junee Senior Citizens Welfare Club	Bringing the Junee Senior Citizen’s Hall into the 21st Century	Junee, NSW
Dalby Day Nursery & Pre-school Association	Soft-fall surfacing upgrade	Dalby, QLD
Barrack Heights Public School	Community pantry improvements	Barrack Heights, NSW
Tottenham Central School	Playground enhancement	Tottenham, NSW
Mungindi Show Society	Water upgrades	Mungindi NSW
Nhill Lake Reserve Committee of Management	Water conditioning project	Nhill, VIC
Narromine Soccer Club	Facility upgrades	Narromine, NSW
Callide Valley Touch Football Club	Seating Upgrade	Biloela, QLD
Tambar Springs Cricket Club	Pitch Upgrade	Tambar Springs, NSW
Deniliquin Mental Health Awareness Group	Deniliquin Mental Health Awareness Program	Deniliquin, NSW
Therapy 2 Thrive	SwimSteps: Supporting Rural Communities through Inclusive Visual Aids	Tamworth, NSW
Friends of Mount Wycheproof	Steam Weeder Project	Wycheproof, VIC
Nyah & District Community Pool Committee	Swimming Pool Maintenance Shed	Nyah, VIC
Hopecare	Food Rescue Central West	Central West, NSW
Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia	Big Brothers Big Sisters Griffith (and surrounds)	Griffith, NSW
You Are Not Alone (YRNA)	Red Roads mental illness awareness program	Regional QLD and NSW
Base Five Co	Tamworth & Regional Mens Circle	Werris Creek, Gunnedah, Quirindi and Uralla NSW
Dunolly & District Neighbourhood Centre	Dunolly Neighbourhood Pantry Improvements	Dunolly, VIC
Temuka Tucker Time	Local dining initiative for those in need	Temuka, NZ

Providing rural and regional families a helping hand

A GrainCorp grant recipient from last year, Little Wings is a not-for-profit organisation that provides free flight and ground transport services for seriously ill children and their families in rural and regional NSW, ACT and QLD.

For CEO Clare Pearson, the support has had a profound impact.

“On the average week we do about 70 missions in our fleet of four aircraft all buzzing around the state,” she says.

“It’s been nearly 12 years of service but really the magic of Little Wings is that we’re 90 percent volunteer-led.

“Little Wings is an organisation run by the community, for the community – so to have GrainCorp come onboard and support us in raising funds to deliver missions is a game-changer for us.”