Thanks to a Community Grant proudly provided by Pine Rivers Community Finance, local not-for-profit Stationery Aid has successfully delivered essential school supplies to 125 disadvantaged students across Moreton Bay and regional Queensland, ensuring they began their school year confident, prepared, and ready to learn.
The initiative, aptly named “Turning Landfill into Heartfill,” reflects the project’s twofold purpose: equipping vulnerable Queensland students with sustainable and complete school booklists while also reducing waste and promoting environmental consciousness in local communities.
Removing Barriers, Building Belonging
For families struggling with financial hardship, single-parent pressures, homelessness, or domestic violence, the simple act of sending a child to school with the right supplies can be daunting. Stationery Aid’s project not only tackled this issue but also helped remove the stigma many students face when they show up on day one without the right gear.
“This year, we reached 1,300 students statewide, 125 of those supported through this grant. Thanks to Community Bank Samford’s generosity, we gave these students the tools they need to learn and thrive from day one,” said Jan Schutt, Chairperson of Stationery Aid.
Partner schools praised the impact, noting improved student wellbeing, reduced financial stress on families, and better classroom readiness.
“Instead of getting bits and pieces, our students had complete booklists and felt just like their peers,” one teacher shared. “They were ready to learn from the very first day, and that’s a gift beyond measure.”
The project also contributed to measurable environmental outcomes by diverting tonnes of school supplies from landfill, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and encouraging reuse and recycling. It empowered students and their schools to become active participants in sustainability efforts while also creating volunteering opportunities for youth, the elderly, and disadvantaged groups.
A post-project evaluation revealed that:
- School attendance in Term 1 improved by 30% among supported students.
- An additional 65% of families said they were more likely to send their children regularly to school with this support.
- Families reported feeling more connected to their school communities and experienced reduced financial and mental stress over the holidays.
A Model for Community Support
“The initiative exemplifies the power of local partnerships to create real and lasting change. With full grant funds expended and zero balance remaining, every dollar went directly to purchasing and assembling the packs, helping children not just survive the start of the school year but thrive in it.”
“We are delighted to have been able to support Stationery Aid with vital funding that has helped children in our community to thrive at school. It’s a wonderful example of how, through our community-focused model approach, we can support genuine grassroots community programs like Stationery Aid, who, through their work, make a positive and essential impact to communities in our region. This grant, and all our grants, are aimed at enriching the communities we call home and we’re delighted to have been able to give back over $2m to support local community projects since the start of our program,” said Senior Branch Manager, Mandy Bell.
