There was a buzz of excitement last week as Compass Institute Trainees took possession of a brand-new 6-burner gas stove at Harvest Kitchen Palmwoods.

Harvest Kitchen is one of the organisation’s buzzing social enterprises, and the donation was thanks to a generous grant from the Heritage Palmwoods Community Branch.

The Compass Institute is an award-winning Sunshine Coast-based charity that provides support for people with intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Part of their unique model includes vocational training opportunities for Trainees in the organisation’s many social enterprises, with Harvest Kitchen being an inspiring local food enterprise based on the Compass Farm in Palmwoods.

“Heritage Palmwoods Community Branch has been a longstanding and generous supporter of Compass and we are extremely grateful for their on-going support,” said Compass CEO David Dangerfiel. “Over the years, funding from their grant program has helped us purchase much needed equipment in our centres that assists us with on-going skills training for our Trainees.”

Harvest Kitchen has their work cut out for them with demand for over 1,200 jams and chutneys needed to be produced every month thanks to a deal with long-standing corporate sponsors, Cricks Sunshine Coast. As part of the partnership, every new car purchased receives a Compass gift pack of homemade goodies, produced by the Trainees using local produce from the Compass Farm. The new stove will go a long way to continuing to make this enterprise a roaring success!

• For more about the Compass Institute go to compassinc.org.au. For enquiries about how you can support Compass, please email Sandra Brodie: sandra@compassinc.org.au