Gathered on Monday for the presentation of the Mawhood Brothers Supa IGA Community Chest funds for 2017, district principals said they already had a good idea of how they would use the money they were receiving.

In the past five years, a total of $24,700 has been given to community groups and schools.

This year the larger schools St Joseph’s, Oberon High and Oberon Public received $700 each and the smaller schools Hampton, Black Springs and O’Connell public schools received $400.

Black Springs Public School principal Karolyn Blackburn said the money would be spent on resources for their comprehensive reading program.

Oberon High principal Craig Luccarda said funds would go towards resources for the students.

“The school and the P and C have a lot of fundraisers, but to receive a lump sum amount of $700 is wonderful,” Oberon Public principal Bronwyn Ingersole said.

Community Chest funds have been donated over the years to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal, Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway, Oberon sporting clubs and Oberon Pool.

The IGA Community Chest program works by crediting a percentage of all products purchased with the IGA Community Chest logo to a special account.

During IGA Community Chest catalogue promotion weeks, all products in the catalogue bearing the special IGA Community Chest logo contribute to the “Chest”.

The store then selects a beneficiary each year among local community groups, not-for-profit organisations, charities and other worthy causes for the funds raised.

Supa IGA’s Ian Mawhood said the local and district communities support the store and it is great to give back.

Mr Mawhood encouraged the schools to benefit from the NSW Government’s Return and Earn container deposit scheme.

From November 2017, consumers have been paying extra for soft drinks, fruit drinks and canned and bottled beer.

“There is a 10 cents refund on eligible items. Consumers can nominate to donate their return money to different organisations,” Mr Mawhood said.