Date set for this year's Fill the Bus campaign

Get your canned goods ready Rotorua, the bus is back!

The Fill the Bus 12-hour food drive, led by The Hits 97.5, with support from the Rotorua Daily Post, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Reesby Buses, is set to take place on Wednesday, December 7.

All items collected will go towards the Rotorua Daily Post Salvation Army Foodbank Christmas Appeal, which aims to restock the organisation's foodback in time for Christmas and 2017.

Rotorua Salvation Army corps officer Ralph Overbye said he was excited about the day.

"We are hoping for a big day and it could be very overwhelming. We are very happy for the opportunity."

He said he hoped people would be as generous this year as they always were.

"It's all about replenishing our stocks and enabling us to help those who are in the greatest need."

Mr Overbye said as well as getting donations, he was looking forward to raising awareness around what the Salvation Army did and building a close relationship with people in the community.

Last year was the first "Fill the Bus" campaign.

In a break with tradition, the can drives of previous years were replaced by the hugely successful 12-hour drive, which ended with more than $7000 worth of items being donated.

This year the bus will be making stops throughout the city to collect food items for the appeal. The schedule starts at the Redwood Shopping Centre at 7.10am, and finishes at the Salvation Army on Old Taupo Rd at 6.50pm.

There will be a number of stops where people can drop off donations of non-perishable food. The bus will also visit several local schools and Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.

Make your donations of non-perishable food at the Rotorua Daily Post office, 1143 Hinemoa St, or the Salvation Army's Community Ministries, 1188 Amohia St.

You can also donate money at BNZ: The Salvation Army Rotorua, Reference: Foodbank, Acc: 02-0416-0024233-00. If any organisations, schools or individuals are organising a fundraising event, please let us know by emailing news@dailypost.co.nz or contacting reporter Kyra Dawson on (07) 349 7477.