Rotary offers foodbank a hand

The Rotary Club of Tauranga has boosted the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal for the foodbank with a generous $2000 donation.

Club president Russell Turner and member David Garland this week delivered the cheque to Tauranga Community Foodbank chairman Mike Baker.

Mr Turner said the club raised funds continuously throughout the year and a large chunk of money was raised by the annual Easter Book Fair.

"Funds from that go towards community programmes.

"The foodbank is an organisation we have donated to in the past," Mr Turner said.

"We like to ensure it's spread around the community and give to various community groups.

"Rotary is a humanitarian organisation throughout the world ... and the local community is just as important."

The club has already donated $25,000 this year to community groups in Tauranga, including $1000 this week to the Salvation Army.

Mr Baker said cash donations were gratefully received by the foodbank in addition to food items.

"Cash is so necessary for all the things we don't get given; things like eggs, toilet rolls, soaps, Weet-Bix.

"We go through 100 trays of eggs a week. When we run out of things like beans, we buy more beans. We spend $8000 to $10,000 a month."