A final count has revealed more than $300,000 worth of cash and food donations has been donated to the Tauranga Community Foodbank during the Bay of Plenty Times 2024 Christmas Appeal.
The record-breaking tally includes the most recently donated food items and final cash donations.
Launched in November, the appeal came at a time when the need for longer-term support was on the rise. The aim of the appeal was to replenish the foodbank shelves to help with constant food support needed in the community.
Tauranga Community Foodbank general manager Nicki Goodwin says food donations help the foodbank get through the next couple of months while cash donations buy groceries for about six months.
“It will help give us that buffer. It is a bit scary how much food is going out a day. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve been here 11 years.”
“A lot of the donations we receive go straight on to our shelf, are packed into food support packages, and head out the door within days.”
She said the foodbank was using at least 40 boxes of donated food daily and expected this to last them another month or two.
Since the beginning of the appeal in mid-November, Goodwin said 3486 people had needed support with food including 1804 children.
“The need for food support prior to Christmas was as expected, high. We expect that this will continue for the next several months.”
Cash donations exceeded those of 2023, with the $220,586.17 donated by the community up on 2023 by over $50,000.
Goodwin said financial donations were up 23% on 2023.
“This is phenomenal and wasn’t expected as we know that things are getting financially tougher for a lot of people and businesses.”
“I think what made it so successful was the people who returned each year to continue to support our community, and then there were many new donors who connected with us during the appeal,” she said.
Large donations included $20,000 from the Port of Tauranga, nearly $20,000 from Tremains Real Estate and $10,000 from Synergy Technologies.
Tauranga Crossing also contributed, collecting donations as part of its Christmas gift-wrapping service It presented a cheque of $6602.10 to the foodbank on Thursday.
Charlotte Clarke, marketing and communications at Tauranga Crossing, said the team believed in supporting their local community, and said the Tauranga Community Foodbank played a vital role in helping families experiencing tough times.
“We saw this as a meaningful opportunity to contribute to an organisation that makes a real difference in our community.
“It’s heartwarming to see the generosity of our customers and to know that together, we’re making a positive impact on the lives of others.
“We can help these organisations continue their vital work, especially during a time when demand for their services is at its peak,” she said.
The appeal aimed to replenish the foodbank’s shelves, offer Christmas treats to people who may otherwise have none and give the foodbank a financial boost coming into the new year.
A total of 32,106 food items were donated. For the tally, each item was valued at $3, higher than in previous years due to the increased cost of living, totalling $96,318 worth of food.
The combined record-breaking tally was $316,904.17.
In the 2023 appeal, $251,662.90 was donated, $168,650.90 in cash and $83,012 in food.
The 2024 appeal included fundraising efforts such as The Hits Christmas Movie in the Park where more than 171 donations came in. The emergency services food drive was a huge success with more than 6000 items donated from the Pyes Pa and Mount Maunganui areas.
Cooney Lees Morgan’s annual food drive marked the 12th year the law firm donated food items to the foodbank and also contributed with a $5000 cash donation.
Having been with the foodbank for more than a decade, Goodwin said her final message to the community was that everyone who contributed to the appeal should feel proud of themselves for supporting others in such a fundamental way.
“People are facing so many hardships and food is one that we can tackle together as a community.”
Bay of Plenty Times editor Kim Gillespie said it was fantastic to see the community - including readers, businesses, clubs and organisations - step up again to help those in need.
“No time’s a good time to be without, but Christmas can be especially tough for some. Thanks to the generosity of those who have given cash and food, and the hard work of Nicki Goodwin and the foodbank team, thousands of people have been and will be helped. Thank you.”
Kaitlyn Morrell is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.