apg community

apg homes pledge their support to local charity manna industries

On the 30th of August, apg launched their charity and environmental committee ‘apg community’, and made the pledge to support local charity Manna Industries.

apg community is a board of the company’s employees who are dedicated to making a difference in the local community. This involves actively trying to reduce their carbon footprint and assisting local charities that support disadvantaged individuals.

Manna Industries was chosen by apg as it was local to Perth, did not have government funding or a large support base and apg employees could be involved ‘hands on’, through donating their time not just via financial assistance.

Manna Industries feeds approximately 100 homeless people each evening at Weld Square, Northbridge, run a soup kitchen in Victoria Park and are committed to enriching the lives of disadvantaged children.

As part of apg’s pledge to support Manna Industries, they have donated $25,000 to the charity and will assist at their soup kitchen. Every Friday afternoon four apg employees will help with preparing an evening meal, and distributing this meal to the homeless in Northbridge.

The staff who have assisted in the program to date, have been humbled by the experience, and although a little daunting at first, are glad they participated, and could do their bit to help people in need.

apg homes also look forward to utilising their building resources to help Manna Industries. They will assist with the fit out of a premise, where the evening meal can be served to the homeless in dignity rather than in the vicinity of an open park.

In conjunction to supporting Manna Industries, apg are also running numerous fundraising events to raise money for the following causes; the James Croft Foundation, the Cancer Foundation and Conductive Education.

To date apg community has raised $2325 from these events and look forward to continuing to support such great causes.

Staff experiences at the Manna Industries Soup Kitchen

Lisa Rose – Selection Consultant
The experience in the kitchen was really fun, we had a really good team with myself, Steph, Dean and Just, the banter going on between us was great and I seemed to be the but of all jokes. I burnt a tea towel and spilt some onions on the floor, I dont know if I was more a hindrance or help. The experience in the park was an real eye opener, there was a wide range of people, from street kids, to the elderly, all seemed very grateful and it made me realise how blessed we are. For years I have wanted to do something like this but never knew how to do it, I cannot wait to do it again and think that Manna Industries is such a great Charity. Approx 100 people benefited from the meals on the night.

Kelly Leonard – Administration Manager
We were all a bit nervous like school kids on our first day of school. We were pointed in the direction of fresh veggies and knives and set to chopping up and preparing the spag bog for the Friday meal. Then came the onions - have you ever seen so many grown men cry at once - hilarious let me tell you. I took it upon myself not to be included in their crying game and left them to chopping up a few kilos of onions.
Michael and Mark showed their true colours when it came time to prepare the best pasta sauce. The competition was intense with both believing they were creating the best meal. This experience in the park is - sorry I am lost for words……I can‟t understand what it must feel like to be in their situation. We honestly felt that all the staff at APG will get so much out of this - it‟s a crazy feeling. Go there with an open mind, take out of it what you like, but I guarantee you will talk to your friends about the experience forever.

John O’Sullivan – Senior Designer
“I am hopeless in the kitchen and at no point did I feel intimidated by Phillipa, even when she was wielding her knife towards me or when Alison 'the cleaning Nazi' pushed us around. Leon flexed his muscles around for the girls to look at and we all worked well together. The park experience was very humbling. It was rewarding to hear some of the people say they were full. I wonder how often they could say that. Some were without a home and some were just going through rough times. But all were very appreciative of a good feed. I gave my kids a big hug when I got home.”

Phillipa Gibbs – Selection Studio Co-ordinator
“We will admit we were all a little nervous to what it would be like in the park but we fed 100 people in basically 15 minutes. We were surprised how majority of the people just looked like you and me, well dressed, well mannered and very appreciative of what we were there to do. I won‟t lie there were a few minor people that made you feel uncomfortable for a moment but we did not feel unsafe.”