Run over a 12 month period the program sees a percentage of all IGA branded products sold go back into the community.

This year the hospital auxiliary was chosen as the beneficiary and store owner Darren Singh will present a cheque for $2271.71 to auxiliary president Irene Worth.

Mrs Worth said the IGA was very supportive of the auxiliary.

“It means a lot. The IGA has been supportive from the start, they always give us the $50 open order to raffle each month and now the funding from the community chest, which has never been this big before,” Mrs Worth said.

The funds will go towards a slit lamp eye exam machine for the local doctor to use.

The machine will allow the doctor to keep a patient’s head still while he examines their eyes.

Mrs Worth said with mill workers and builders in the town the equipment was important to have as it would help the doctor remove foreign objects from eyes.

Over the past seven years IGAs around the country have donated $42m to community organisations.

“This was a strong community organisation that desperately needed funds to foster the needs of the hospital and the community,” Mr Singh said.

Mr Singh said Bulahdelah IGA was currently looking for its next community group to benefit from the funds and in the past had helped the local schools, hospital and old aged care.

“We also sponsor sporting groups and help families in need.”

Mr Singh appealed to the community to purchase IGA branded products which would go towards increasing community chest funds and therefore help the community.