Kennards Hire is proud to announce they are re-launching their School Buddy Program initiative to support KidsCan, with 99 local schools and early childhood centres set to be recipients of the reinvigorated program.

KidsCan, Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading charity dedicated to helping Kiwi kids affected by poverty, and Kennards Hire, New Zealand’s leading family-owned equipment hire business, have re-launched the program as schools head back this month. Designed to give all kids a fair go, the School Buddy Program provides quality equipment, project expertise and volunteers, to help make school spaces beautiful and engaging environments to grow and learn in.

Kennards Hire branches across New Zealand will now support 4-5 local schools or early childhood learning centres with extra assistance; through the School Buddy Programme, Kennards Hire team members will provide tangible, hands-on support to schools that need assistance with maintenance and upkeep of buildings and grounds.

“The School Buddy Programme is a fantastic initiative, providing practical and very welcome support to low decile schools. Every child deserves to learn in a beautiful environment, and we’re grateful to Kennards Hire for all they’re doing to make a difference for the many children living in hardship,” says Julie Chapman, CEO and founder of KidsCan.

The School Buddy Program will provide 100% discount on equipment hire such as ride-on lawnmowers to maintain large areas, scissor lifts and scaffold to assist in school mural designs and artworks, and mini-loaders and wheelbarrows to move large quantities of sand and bark.

“KidsCan and Kennards Hire are a blessing to our school – St Joseph’s School, Grey Lynn.  We thank them for their support and generosity. We are grateful to Kennards Hire for the donation of a garden trimmer to our school”. Says Lydia Victor, Principal of St Joseph’s School.

In addition to free equipment hire, the Kennards Hire team is excited to get behind the cause and volunteer once again. The COVID-19 pandemic had put a halt to on-school grounds volunteering, but the team can again offer people-power to help with maintenance and preventative work, staffing BBQs at school fetes and fundraising events, and much more.

“The team at Kennards Hire is extremely proud and humbled to continue our partnership with KidsCan. To be able to help the community and watch the work we do have a positive impact on kids and their schools means the world to us all,” said Tom Kimber, General Manager, Kennards Hire New Zealand.

In addition to its School Buddy Program recommitment, all 23 Kennards Hire New Zealand branches recently hosted a fundraiser BBQ for KidsCan.