5 December: This Christmas Woolworths is again helping The Salvation Army look after those in need across Aotearoa, with the annual appeal for The Salvation Army now underway.

Woolworths will donate $100,000 to The Salvation Army and - if they wish - Woolworths customers can give by ‘rounding up’ their shopping at the checkout or self checkout, or drop food or gifts into the special trolleys in stores.

"We so appreciate our long-standing relationship with Woolworths which, at Christmas, sees Woolworths customers given the opportunity of giving money and food items for the whānau we work with. Our clients can really struggle to make Christmas a special occasion because of their limited resources. Woolworths and Woolworths customers can really help change that - thank you Woollies and Woolies customers!" said John Mawdsley, Corporate Partnerships Team Lead for The Salvation Army.

As well as giving at the checkout shoppers can drop non-perishable food items into trolleys in-store and there are recommendations and displays in store with most wanted items.

“Our appeal is for food, but if customers want to spread the festive cheer in a different way they can also also donate gifts which will be distributed to families in need. New and unwrapped children's gifts are encouraged, which means that whānau can choose an age-appropriate gift for their tamariki,” said Woolworths New Zealand’s General Manager Public Affairs and Sustainability Kate Eastoe.

The Salvation Army isn’t the only charity that benefits from Woolworths’ support at Christmas. Customers can help give Kiwi kids a cracker of a Christmas by buying the KidsCan Christmas Crackers. Every cracker has a chance to win prizes including a $500 Woolworths gift card and all proceeds go to supporting kiwi kids living in hardship.

In addition to ongoing support for The Salvation Army and KidsCan, Woolworths New Zealand invests heavily in food rescue, with around 30 food rescue organisations receiving more than $1m in grants as well as thousands of tonnes of surplus, safe, edible food. Woolworths New Zealand also supports The Little Miracles Trust, NZ Red Cross and others.