Drought and bushfire-affected schools say thanks.

 

The Australian Office Products Charitable Fund has received messages of thanks from schools and dealers that have received book packs donated by suppliers to the independent office products sector.

 

Among the messages was this one from Rebecca Sciberras, administration officer at Mendooran Central School, one of more than 40 schools in drought-affected areas: “We have received our book pack donations. What an amazing gift you have given to the students at Mendooran Central School. We are all very grateful, all these supplies will be greatly appreciated by all.”

 

Meantime, the Fund has continued to provide book packs to schools and dealers in NSW and Victoria affected by the recent bushfires.

 

AOPCF director John Donaghy (owner of Discount Office National) and Chris Hoban (co-owner of Surry Office National) last week personally delivered book packs to Bega Office Choice and Bay Office Choice at Batemans Bay – an 850 kilometre return trip.

 

Bega Office Choice director Lex Marshall shared this post with OPN on the donations and the impact of the fires on local business:

 

“As many dealers would have heard Bega Office Choice and Bay Office Supplies at Batemans Bay are right in the heart of the South Coast bushfires.

 

“And, like most businesses we have seen our sales diminish as the community concentrates on fire protection, evacuation plans and so on.

 

“However, we have been receiving practical assistance from a number of quarters some of them unexpected.

 

“Our bank has deferred any loan repayments without any interest penalty, our landlord has reduced the rent and the Australian Tax Office has told us to leave BAS and other tax matters until our bushfire concerns have gone.

 

“Then last night, former Office Choice chairman John Donaghy together with Chris Hoban (a retired Office Brands director) arrived with a van containing boxes and boxes of free school packs to be given to children of fire-affected families. The school packs were part of 6000 such packs which were supplied by the Office Products

Charity Fund as a result of the success of the charity Christmas lunch held in Sydney last November.

 

“Not only were there hundreds of school packs for the schools but there were also many boxes of office supplies which they have given to Darren Knight at Bay Office Choice and us to supplement our stocks. How generous!

 

“So our thanks go to the whole office products industry which so generously supported the school packs program.”

 

Donaghy told OPN: “After driving through Mogo and Cobargo on the way to Bega and seen the devastation, we have sent book packs to all students at the schools in those communities..

 

“The Fund has also sent four book packs to Office Choice Gippsland at their request,” he said

 

He added: “I’m pleased to say that this takes care of all book pack stock and donations.”

 

PHOTO CAPTION: From top clockwise – Bega Office Choice owners Lex and Ruth Marshall with John Donaghy, together with Chris Hoban at Bay Office Choice and with the principal of Mogo Public School.