Riverside Plaza marketing manager Heidi Flaherty is encouraging locals to get behind their local community group by voting.
THE Riverside Plaza is putting the "fun" back into fundraising with their new, interactive community grants project.
They are calling on customers to simply fill out a form and drop it into a box allocated to three local community groups.
The community group with the highest number of votes by Wednesday, October 31 will be awarded with a $2000 grant.
Riverside Plaza marketing manager Heidi Flaherty said the new grants scheme was based on a successful model by their sister centre Sugarland Shoppingtown in Bundaberg.
"We have done community sponsorship before...this is just a different way to support the community, it gives them a chance to raise their profile and generate more awareness," she said.
"We want to see what customers believe we should be supporting. At the end of the day the money is going back into their local community so they should have some input."
Ms Flaherty said this is the first of three voting rounds to be held before the end of the year.
Nominations for community groups are still being accepted.
One vote per person, per day will be accepted.
To make the decision easier here is more information about the three shortlisted groups:
1. ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group
1. ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group
1. ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group
1. ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group
1. ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group
THE ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group has provided financial support to cancer patients and their families around the Queanbeyan district for the last 26 years. They help people dealing with all types of cancer and all ages.
Their support includes providing finances for medication, chemotherapy bills, tube feeding and gas bills as well as food and fuel vouchers.
How would the $2000 grant be used?
The group would use the $2000 towards buying food and fuel vouchers to be sent out to the cancer patients in the Queanbeyan area. These vouchers help ease the strain of food and fuel costs for families over the next 6 months.
2. Queanbeyan Children's Special Needs Group
THE Queanbeyan Children's Special Needs Group (QCSNG) delivers vital Early Childhood Intervention services to Queanbeyan and the surrounding area from birth to school entry age.
The group provides support and information services for 45 local families and carers with young special needs children. They also help with education, therapy and health services; support for early childhood services and support the child's participation in everyday activities in their own environment and community activities.
How would the $2000 grant be used? The group would use the grant to provide a Swimming and Water Safety program for children with special needs (0-6-years-old).
The children would obtain lifesaving water skills, improve their physical fitness and assist with therapy and sensory development. The program would be particularly helpful for families who cannot afford swimming lessons and provide a social avenue for families to interact with the local community through sport and recreational activities in the local community.
3. Wildcare Queanbeyan
WILDCARE is dedicated to enhancing the welfare of the Australian native wildlife in the local area.
This is done through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured or orphaned animals; education and awareness programs and advocating the wildlife and its habitat.
Wildcare is a registered charity, managed and operated solely by volunteers.
How will the $2000 grant be used?
How will the $2000 grant be used?
How will the $2000 grant be used?
How will the $2000 grant be used?
How will the $2000 grant be used?
The grant would be used to establish an aviary to raise birds that have fallen out of nests or have been separated from their parents. The aviary would be located at a semi-rural release site.
This aviary is timely as during Spring, Wildcare is inundated will calls to rescue baby birds including Magpies, Galahs, Tawny Frog Mouths and Wattlebirds.