The Maitland store has donated $2000 to Carries Place Domestic Violence and Homelessness Services, as well as $1000 in food – all raised in the last 12 weeks.

“It’s a wonderful, community-minded office,” said organiser Deb Skene. 

“Staff members would thrown in a dollar or two here and there, and we would bring in cans to strart of the food donations. Then we’d tell customers what we’re doing and they’d donate as well.

“We find they’re really supportive, Maitland people. Very community based and we’re able to tap into that.

“We also donated $1000 to Dara’s Food Van – they donate food to battling families and homeless people in the area.”

The Officeworks generosity certainly struck a chord with Carrie’s Place executive officer Jenny Harland.

“Every dollar the community raises goes back to the community, so we’re really grateful,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the goodwill of the community and businesses like Officeworks, we wouldn’t be able to provide the services we do.

“It’s not just the money, but the food too. We give away food to struggling people every single day, so this makes a huge difference.

“When you consider that we look after families escaping domestic violence and homelessness from East Maitland to Dungog, from Singleton to Cessnock, it’s a big area and we rely on the community to help us do that.”