After a long day at work, most of us are happy to take it easy. Not so for Monte Vista resident Arlene Newman who has been recognised by the Woolworths Trust for making a difference at the Adopt-A-Pet animal rescue centre in Milnerton. Newman, a personal assistant in the IT department at Woolworths head office in Cape Town, recently won the Woolworths Trust’s ‘Working Wonders’ initiative, which recognises the efforts Woolworths employees are making towards meeting social challenges in their communities. Her prize, R5 000-00 worth of cat and kitten food, will be given to the animals at the centre. A devoted animal lover Newman volunteers her time on Saturday mornings at Adopt-A-Pet; interacting with the dogs and cats undergoing rehabilitation and treatment before they are transferred to suitable homes. Adopt-A-Pet, a pro-life rescue, rehabilitation and adoption organisation for destitute animals, individually checks every home animals are relocated to in order to ensure they are placed in a safe environment suitable to their needs. Before being placed in a home, each animal is treated for worms, ticks and fleas, is sterilised, inoculated and micro-chipped. “My love for animals spans the entire spectrum of the animal kingdom,” says Newman who, on a monthly basis, collects pet food, towels, blankets, books, magazines and monetary donations from colleagues and friends on behalf of Adopt-A-Pet. “The volunteers at the centre share these same core values; they respect the lives of animals, which is why I give of my time and help whenever and wherever possible.” “Caring for people has always been at the heart of the Woolworths way of doing business,” says Brian Frost, Chairman of the Woolworths Trust, which oversees and administers Woolworths extensive CSI initiatives. “We are proud to say that it goes beyond what Woolworths does on a corporate level through our CSI programme, to the way our stores are involved in their local communities, right down to real grass roots level. The ‘Working Wonders’ programme allows us to recognise our ‘unsung heroes’ – individual Woolworths people who are making a real difference in their own way and in their own time in their own communities.” Woolworths staff members are invited to submit their stories, written in their own words. A representative group of Woolworths employees selects a winner every month, and the story is published on Woolworths intranet and in Woolworths internal newsletter, Shop Talk. “In addition to recognising individual effort, we also hope that reading these stories will inspire other staff members to get involved in community activities in some way,” Frost explains. At the end of the year the monthly winners are reassessed and an overall yearly winner with two runner ups are chosen and their charities are rewarded again with an additional R50 000, R20 000 and R10 000 respectively. ENDS Issued on behalf of: The Woolworths Trust Issued by: liquidlingo Communications Contact: Bazukise Marasha Telephone Number: 021 424 1530 Email: bazukise@liquidlingo.co.za