Food, cash donations keep volunteers busy

Donations are flooding in for The Daily Post Christmas Appeal for the Salvation Army foodbank.

Ngongotaha residents donated a whopping 1312 items of food and $170.70 during Tuesday night's can drive. A Rotorua woman, who wants to remain anonymous, has made an incredible donation to the appeal - giving $3000.

Members of the Bay of Plenty (Rotorua) Indian Association have also this week donated 633 items of food.

About 30 volunteers from the Salvation Army, The Daily Post, Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade and other members of the community went door-to-door in Ngongotaha on Tuesday night collecting food and cash for the appeal. Rotorua MP Todd McClay and his son Sam, 12, also took part in the can drive.

Captain Amanda Martin of Rotorua's Salvation Army said it was the first time they held a can drive in the area and thanked people for their generosity.

Mrs Martin said despite the rain, people still came out and left food at the end of their driveways.

One resident made a cash donation but also donated a large container of toys to the appeal.

Meanwhile, Bunnings Rotorua took part in the appeal, leaving donation boxes at the entrance to the store for people to donate over the past two weeks.

Customers and Bunnings staff donated 102 items of food and 20 toys.

Mamaku School has also donated 235 items of food while another Rotorua resident made an anonymous donation of $500. Another Rotorua business, Lakeland Queen, donated $250 to the appeal.