Points add up to Christmas cheer

New Norfolk St Vincent de Paul manager Pauline Ackerly, centre,
receives the gift vouchers from Community Card founder Ruth Howie,
left, and Woolworths New Norfolk manager Wendy Harris, right.

THE card that accumulates unwanted frequent shopper points has this year collected enough to provide vouchers worth $2000 to a local charity.

Now in its second year, the Tasmanian Community Card is a Derwent Valley initiative that allows Woolworths customers to donate unwanted points to a central fund.

As Christmas approaches, the points are converted into $50 grocery-only gift cards for distribution to the less fortunate.

Established at the end of 2013, the card is the brainchild of New Norfolk's Ruth Howie. Shoppers can donate their points after shopping at any Woolworths or BWS store in Tasmania.

Shoppers this year contributed about 200,000 points, which were converted into 40 $50 vouchers. These were presented to the manager of the New Norfolk St Vincent de Paul Society, Pauline Ackerly, earlier this week. Mrs Ackerly told the Derwent Valley Gazette that the Tasmanian Community Card was a wonderful local initiative.

In the lead-up to Christmas, why not donate some points to kick-off next year's donations. Simply ask for your Woolworths frequent shopper points to go to the Tasmanian Community Card (card number 6194994).