Grenda sponsors charity lunch

By Shaun Inguanzo
GRENDA Corporation has given Greater Dandenong’s poorest residents a reason to smile this Christmas.
The company has pitched in $14,000 to fully sponsor the Youth Assist Christmas Day lunch.
Grenda Corporation executive chairman Geoff Grenda said the bus company had a long-running association with Visy Cares Centre, run by Youth Assist.
“My father, Ken Grenda, was the inaugural chairman,” he said.
“Dad was sort of instrumental in getting Visy on board with the centre, and he ran a function in Dandenong Park which raised a fair bit of money to build the centre.”
While the centre’s primary focus is on youth, Mr Grenda said the Christmas Day lunch would be for all ages, to ensure those who might otherwise go hungry could still enjoy a Christmas meal.
“We have a foundation where we contribute to charities, albeit modestly,” he said.
“The Visy Cares Centre is probably number one on our list.
“It has had a few problems in recent times resulting in the council taking it over.
“So we were looking for something else we could do, and when we were asked if we were prepared to put something into the lunch, Grenda Corporation pretty much made the decision to do the whole thing.”
Mr Grenda said the company was loyal to the Dandenong community in which it began its successful life.
“I don’t think it means anything to us in terms of extra customers, but it is the community that looks after us by travelling on our buses, so if we give back then it’s a good thing for both parties.”