Cafe applauded for can-do attitude

CANS AND COFFEE: Paula Wade from Women's Refuge with Springvale Garden Cafe barista Becky Jenkins. PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER 010515WCLGCAN1

Bring in a can of food, and get a coffee in return.

It's an exchange that sits comfortably with Springvale Garden Cafe and Whanganui Women's Refuge.

Customers at the Springvale Garden Cafe were invited to bring in a can of food and get a coffee in return. The cans will be donated to Women's Refuge.

Cafe owner Lyn Crawford said she was delighted with the response of more than 400 cans.

Mrs Crawford said she decided she wanted to give something back to the community after her cafe won best cafe in the lower North Island, in the New Zealand Cafe Of The Year awards.

"We thought Women's Refuge was a very worthy cause, and the support we've had from the public proves that."

Chairwoman of Women's Refuge, Paula Wade, said she was "very grateful" for the cafe's assistance.

"It can be hard to raise money these days, but the Wanganui community is always so supportive of us."

"We'd like to congratulate Lyn and her team for their achievements. It's great to see a local business thriving."

All the cans will be used locally.