Corteva Agriscience employees contribute time and energy to a range of grassroots charities,
At the bustling Foodbank distribution centre in Sydney, volunteers from Corteva Agriscience recently joined charity workers to pick, pack and sort essential food items destined for Australians facing food insecurity.
The day’s work was one part of Corteva’s ongoing drive to support not-for-profit organisations rising to the challenge of supporting health and wellbeing across the country.
Each year, Corteva employees contribute time and energy to a range of grassroots charities, with additional financial support to organisations that are the backbone of their communities.
For communications and sustainability Lead, Karen Deane, volunteering offers a chance to step away from the office and into the operational heart of food relief, helping at Foodbank in Sydney by packing Christmas hampers, picking orders or sorting donations.
“This year, our team helped with Food Rescue, moving almost 14 tonnes of food, enough to create approximately 23,135 meals for individuals and families doing it tough at this time of year,” Deane said.
“It’s important to us to do our bit for this wonderful cause and it is a bonding experience for our team. We’re lifting boxes together and helping each other, so it’s quite physical and a good workout for those of us who are usually in an office environment.”
“Corteva Agriscience also provides support and funding through a non-profit partner called GlobalGiving, and this year the company successfully applied for A$15,000 in funds for Foodbank. Foodbank is struggling to get enough donations these days, so our little bit does help.”
Corteva also contributes financial support to programs like Active Farmers, to keep people in farming communities mentally and physically healthy.
Corteva’s sponsorship of Active Farmers for the past eight years has helped to boost rural health awareness and provided valuable volunteering opportunities for staff.
Active Farmers provides group fitness classes led by local, qualified trainers in 42 regional communities throughout Australia, to enhance physical and mental wellbeing.
Deane said Corteva employees have been enthusiastic participants in events like the Active Farmers’ Games, Run For Resilience, and Ride for Resilience.
“We like to physically attend and sometimes we take our kids to the events too,” she said.
“It’s not always taking part in the actual running or riding event. We might man the water or refuelling stations or help with food. It’s whatever we can do to lend a hand.”
Corteva Agriscience recently became a sponsor of the Fat Farmers Rural Health Initiative in South Australia, and now that it’s joined forces with Active Farmers, they’ll continue to promote physical activity, mental health support, and social connection opportunities through the merged organisation.
Fat Farmers Rural Health Initiative CEO, Richard Sheppy, said the sponsorship makes a big difference.
“As a not-for-profit, we are always looking to align with organisations that have similar values to us,” Sheppy said.
“Corteva Agriscience operates in the rural space where we are a grassroots organisation, so it’s really a case of one trusted organisation supporting another.”
