Hillcrest cafe fundraises for Papua New Guinea

Thanks in part to the efforts of several dozen Hamiltonian café-goers, a new set of solar panels will soon be delivered to a coffee growing collective in Papua New Guinea.

As part of a North Island-wide fundraising event, Hillcrest café Just Food pledged to donate 50 percent of proceeds raised during an afternoon customer “mobbing” on Sunday to the project.

Customers at Just Food Cafe raised $520 in two hours.

The fundraiser, organised by the not-for-profit Conscious Consumer organisation, took place at cafes in Hamilton, Wellington and Auckland at the weekend.

Eateries in each urban centre “bid” for the chance to be bombarded with customers by offering to donate the greatest percentage of earnings to the cause.

Aside from raising funds for the solar panels, Waikato organiser Kirsty Procter hopes the event will help raise awareness about the importance of supporting certified Fair Trade agriculture.

“It’s the difference between giving a hand up and not a hand out.”