Market owners Anthea and Peter Perry said they decided to offer the small grants to give back to the community which had supported their business “so much” since they opened in 2013.

“The first donation the fund had made was last week, a sum of $200 to Stawell Secondary College’s breakfast program,” Ms Perry said.

“This gives students a free, healthy breakfast for a great start to the day.”

Mr and Mrs Perry said they had considered many ways to give back to the community for “some time”.

“We’re really rapt to be able to offer this fund to community based organisations who need a helping hand with a project,” Ms Perry said.

“We’ve lived, worked and done business in Stawell for 17 years and love the community.

“We feel extremely privileged to live in such a great place and we really want to support the people who have supported us in our business ventures, it’s been a huge act of kindness.” 

The Helping Hand fund is a rolling fund open all year, with applications assessed on a monthly basis.

Community organisations can apply for the fund by filling in an application form available on The Pickers Market website, thepickersmarket.com.au, click on the ‘news’ page and find the story about Helping Hand to download the form.

For more information email Anthea at The Pickers Market on anthea@thepickersmarket.com.au.