TECT cheques gifted to help fill foodbank coffers

POWER MONEY: TECT grants manager Paula Hudson (left) and grants administrator Jeannett Voss with five cheques they are passing on to the Tauranga Community Food Bank. Photo / Scott K MacLeod

Needy Bay families will receive a foodbank windfall from generous locals who returned their Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust cheques to be used for charity.

The trust sent 56,000 cheques worth an average of $553 to its account holders last month, and five recipients chose to return the money to help the community.

Trust operations and grants manager Paula Hudson said the returned cheques added up to more than $2400.

"We've decided to pool it together and give it to the foodbank," she said. "I suppose we should tell them."

The cash will be passed on by electronic transfer next week as part of the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas appeal.

Trust grants administrator Jeanette Voss, who has worked for the trust for 20 years, said it was "humbling" to see people giving back.

"We had one gentleman give his cheque back every year for a number of years," she said.

The trust pumps $9 million into the community each year.

Foodbank manager Nikki Goodwin said the appeal had raised more than $70,000 worth of cash and food as of this week.

She was "delighted" to hear the trust would donate a further $2400.

"That's just gold," she said. "We need those cash donations to spend on food supplies."

Food was already being distributed to the needy, she said.