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G’day Parma-rino!

Thank you to our incredible venues and dedicated patrons who have supported Parma for a Farmer in 2019.

While raising funds through selling parmigianas is a fun and especially tasty way of donating to our farmers, it is important to always remember the realities of what our rural communities experience daily.

Up to nine years of drought has a devastating affect on our friends in the bush – emotionally, physically, and financially.

But what does the drought look like?

Three photos, three years, same location. Thank you Emily Henderson for this stunning imagery which demonstrates the progress of the drought, and shows the critical situation of Australia’s landscape.

Your efforts in supporting Buy a Bale through Parma for a Farmer is directly assisting communities whose backyards have steadily turned into the last photo. Every dollar raised through this campaign provides the necessary resources for our farmers including hay bales, water, diesel, and financial assistance.

Together, we can get through this – one parmigiana at a time.

If you have not yet registered for Parma for a Farmer in 2019, there is still plenty of time! Head here to get started.

Finished your fundraising campaign? Deposit your funds raised here, and let us know how you went!

We would love to see any photos from the campaign, so make sure to tag #ParmaforaFarmer on social media.

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Why Parma in 2019?

We all love a good parmigiana, that’s for sure. But a tasty dish cannot be the reason why thousands of people banded in 2018 to participate in Parma for a Farmer. So why are we running this campaign?

Aside from being a fantastic revenue raiser, excellent example of corporate social responsibility, and of course a good excuse for eating some delicious morsels, Parma for a Farmer comes from a place of heart.  

The Realities of Drought

It can be difficult to truly comprehend the effects of drought living in a thriving city environment. In a city, we see a day of rain followed by green grass and a fresh scent in the air and it can be easy to assume that it is the norm Australia-wide.

Daily life for our rural communities is far from this.

• Farmers struggle with limited or no fodder available to feed their animals
• Lack of water means many rural communities go without clean drinking water and essentials for hygienic practices for extended periods of time
• Mental welfare of farmers is at a low, with issues of family separation, farm eviction, domestic assault and substance abuse being of concern.
• Many farmers find themselves upwards of 100kms from any mental health service, increasing the isolation, loneliness, depression, and lack of connection to community felt.
• Many farmers find themselves in a position that due to drought and rising costs of resources, they are unable to receive income from their farms. This in turn creates a lack of spending in towns, which creates overall hardships for rural communities.

What can we do to help?

Parma for a Farmer, mate! Simply donating a dollar for every chicken parmigiana or buying a parma from a participating venue can make the world of difference.

Donate $20?
Why, that buys one small haybale for a farmer, and $100 feeds a cow for one week!

$50?
Hey, that gets a struggling farming family a hamper of supplies from their local supermarket – driving funds back into the community!

$250?
Holy Smokes! That allows 11,500 litres of water to be delivered to a farm within 100kms of the collection point!

$5700?
Awesome sauce! You’ve just bought a truck load of hay for our farmers to feed their stock!

$9500?
Phwoooaaahhhhh, you’ve just bought a semi-trailer worth of hay to transport to an affected area, my friend.

Every cent raised can provide something of value to our farmers and rural communities.

Why I am doing this again? (for the people in the back)

Everyone has their reasons for raising money for Rural Aid. Some have been personally affected by the drought or have seen loved ones personally affected. Some have heard about it on tv and want to help where they can. Some might see their food suppliers struggle and want to help them out a bit more. For some it might be a great way to connect to customers and engage them with a community focus. There are so many great reasons to do Parma for a Farmer! So, let’s do it together for our rural communities.

Chat to us today to get started with the campaign and let us know why it means something to you.

https://www.parmaforafarmer.com.au/2019/05/21/why-parma-in-2019/

Not sure how to best run your Parma for a Farmer campaign? No worries, we have you covered!

The great thing about Parma for a Farmer is that it can be as easy or extravagant as you like. At its simplest, you advertise your participation in Parma for a Farmer, customers come in and enjoy a parmigiana, and BAM! Donation made right there. We love an easy campaign!

For our friends out there who want to try something a little different, check out a few of our ideas:

Trivia Night:

What can be better than a pot and a parmy for trivia! Trivia nights can be as creative as you like, and are a great way for bringing customers into your venue for a fun night. They can be themed however you wish, which can provide for some amazing photo opportunities. Heck, you could do a Parma themed trivia night with parma meal specials and some parma questions!

Now that’s what I call winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Dress as a Farmer Night:

Mate, if costume parties are your (or your customer’s) thing, then why not host a Dress as a Farmer Night? Encourage your staff and patrons to don their finest Farmer garb, and head to the party for a parmy and a pint. The costumes can be as simple or elaborate as your guests choose.

To make the basic costume, all you need is:

• Straw hat or cowboy hat
• Denim overalls
• White flannel shirt with rolled up sleeves
• Boots

Pay homage to our rural friends while raising much needed funds for them!

Parma Crawl:

Like a pub crawl, but with more parmigianas.

Do you know nearby venues who also sell a mean parmy? Then why not partner up and create a night your parma-loving customers won’t forget.

Plan a map to make your way across the participating venues, gather a crowd together, and enjoy a night of parma-fueled fun.

*Note: even the most dedicated parmigiana enthusiast might struggle to have more than one full-sized parmigiana, so try creating fun miniature versions or parma-hybrids for the night.

These are just a few ideas, and we would love to hear what you have planned for your campaign! Drop us a message below, or email georgina@ruralaid.org.au to share your ideas.