The appeal aims to replenish the foodbank’s shelves, offering Christmas treats for people who may otherwise have none and to boost the foodbank into the new year.
Collet said supporting the Tauranga Community Foodbank “genuinely mattered” to the team.
“We’re firm believers in giving back to the communities we operate in, and the foodbank plays such a vital role in supporting local whānau during times of need.”
EVES branches, including Whakatāne, Omokoroa, Bethlehem, Cherrywood, Cameron Rd, The Lakes, Mount Maunganui, and Papamoa, collected non-perishable food items and toiletries.
The community, EVES clients, and anyone visiting the branches were invited to join in supporting the collection.
The EVES Whakatāne team with a trolley full of donations.
“Every year, we’re blown away by how our teams and the community rally, and this year has been no exception,” Collet said.
She said the collection was “far more” than a donation drive.
“It’s a chance to come together, make a meaningful contribution, and show the community that we’re here to help in tangible ways.”
This year, Tauranga Community Foodbank has supported 23,618 people and distributed 9520 kai packages.
The foodbank estimated 30% of the groceries it distributed had been donated.
Collet said EVES had “tonnes” of donations come through with everything from pantry staples to Christmas treats.
“It’s a simple way we can make a meaningful difference, and we see it as part of our responsibility to support the well-being of the communities we serve.”
Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for severalyears and studied journalism at Massey University.
