Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses are proudly supporting the Salvation Army Project 614 – Night Café, a safe space in Melbourne for those in need.
Through the introduction of the Brendan Nottle Gingerbread campaign in late 2018, Ferguson Plarre managed to raise a whopping total of $30,000 in just 9 weeks. $1.00 was donated from the sale of every gingerbread made in the likeness of Salvation Army’s Major Brendan Nottle.
Our support continues throughout the year with various campaigns dedicated to donating funds from sales of our much-loved products. We aim to raise $100,000 for the Salvos by the end of 2019.
During the Easter period, $1 from the sale of every pack of Traditional Hot Cross Buns was donated to the Salvos. Our CEO Steve Plarre and Major Brendan Nottle have also teamed up to create Melbourne’s first ever Hot Cross Morning Tea.
Our Gingerbread Nottle and Hot Cross Bun campaigns raised $63,000 which means we are almost two thirds of the way to reaching our target of raising $100,000 for the Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614.
National Donut Day was created in 1938 as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army in Chicago. Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses have seized this connection to embark on their next fundraiser to raise dough for our local Salvos.
When we found out that the Salvation Army invented National Donut Day 81 years ago, we thought ‘what a perfect way to raise some more dough for the Salvos - National Donut Day is celebrated on the first Friday in June.
So this week (3rd to 9th June, 2019), we will be donating 50 cents from the sale of every single donut across our network of 78 stores and online
Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614 Major Brendan Nottle said funds raised through donut sales would go towards the 24/7 Homelessness Program.
“Our team is contactable 24 hours a day via a telephone contact system connected to a mobile response team, based at 69 Bourke Street,” Brendan said.
“Some of the situations our workers deal with are complicated and time intensive, which means that other callers can find it difficult to get through and these are often vulnerable people who need to speak with someone immediately.
“Ideally, we would like to increase our staffing levels for this important service and investigate new ‘smarter’ ways of managing our telephone system.”
Salvation Army 24/7 Homelessness Program phone operators speak with hundreds of people a month and make referrals to hospitals, Victoria Police, housing providers, counselling and other external agencies.
We're encouraging workers to get online to order their donuts and plan a National Donut Day morning or afternoon tea to support this important cause.
We’re asking all Melburnians to get online at fergusonplarre.com.au, order a box for the office or friends and family, and celebrate National Donut Day while helping to make a difference in the lives of the homeless and vulnerable.