Good Friday for victims

THOUSANDS of shoppers ditched their usual shopping habits to support those affected by the bushfires on Friday.
People flocked to the Coles supermarket in Healesville to help raise more than $4.8 million nationally for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund.
Healesville’s Jesse Nye and her children Skye and Rhys Richardson said they normally shopped at Aldi but made the change for the fundraiser, delaying their weekly shop until Friday.
“This is a great idea,” she said. “I have been able to donate some clothes and over the next few days will be helping a lady with some of her animals, but this helps me contribute to the fundraising as well.”
Healesville store manager Jerome Duncan was the face of the appeal appearing on television ads in the lead-up to Friday’s fundraiser. Ian McLeod, Coles’ managing director, said he was thrilled with the response and thanked customers for their generosity and support.
“It was inspiring to see store teams rally together to make the day a success,” he said. “Our customers’ generosity means we’re able to make a fantastic contribution to the Bushfire Appeal Fund.”
Coles, BiLo and Coles online stores nationally donated $4,870,889 to the fund. Added to the original pledge of $260,000 that brought the total raised to more than $5 million.