By Jackson Russell
The Bendigo Bank’s Wallan, Kilmore and Broadford branches are helping thank Mitchell Shire’s hardworking teachers while also supporting cafes and bakeries.
The bank has donated free coffee from 13 cafes and bakeries to teachers and staff of 15 schools from Beveridge to Pyalong from Monday to Friday throughout May through the Coffee for Teachers project.
The project helps support teachers who are working harder than ever while children are learning remotely, while also getting some money into the cafes and bakeries that are struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community engagement manager Kate Boulton said as a local business, the branches wanted to support their fellow local businesses doing it tough.
“So far, we’ve spent over $2000 and it’s going for the whole month and we’ve issued $5000 to our branches to put back into our local cafes and bakeries,” she said.
“We’re getting some lovely feedback from the schools saying they really needed it.
“It’s a really good time because a lot of them have been struggling mentally with remote teaching so a lot of the feedback has been about how timely it’s been and how it’s lifted their spirits.”
Kilmore Primary School assistant principal Sam George said it was a great initiative.
“We all feel pretty lucky that we’re able to do that. Everyday we’re getting coffees and we feel pretty privileged that the coffee is keeping us going throughout the days,” she said.
“Our teachers are working extremely hard, all our staff members are and just having that little initiative there puts a smile on everyone’s face so it’s been really nice.
“I think it’s great for the local cafes at the moment. They’re not able to open up so I think having that initiative is really helping to get that business for them during these tough times.”
