Christmas Appeal: Help add festive cheer for clients

Baywide Community Law managing solicitor Bev Edwards has organised a food drive for the Tauranga Community Foodbank to help her clients. Photo / John Borren

Baywide Community Law has organised a food drive to help clients in need.

Managing solicitor Bev Edwards said the service had seen many struggling families come through its doors and wanted to go beyond legal help.

"They are really stretched to afford the basics," Ms Edwards said. "Some families don't have Christmas trees. I just thought, 'how sad is that?'"

Ms Edwards said the team had collected a range of "treat and special" items for the Tauranga Community Foodbank to add to the drive this Christmas.

"Luxuries is the first thing that goes out the door," Ms Edwards said.

The service was looking to continue collecting treats and other food items for the foodbank, and was wanting good quality Christmas decorations.

Ms Edwards said some clients could not afford to put up a Christmas tree, let alone give their children special Christmas food items.

"It's our privilege to help these people, our clients. A lot of our clients can't afford to even pay koha, but they come in with baked goods like cookies," Ms Edwards said. "This is the time when we think, what can we do for them."

Baywide Community Law had seen an increase in clients needing help as they could not afford legal fees.

She had challenged the other businesses in the area to collect the most food for the foodbank. They would be judging the winner this Friday.