Christmas Appeal: Port of Tauranga keeps foodbank tradition

The Port of Tauranga has handed over a $6000 cheque to the Tauranga Community Foodbank in lieu of corporate gifts.

The port's chief executive Mark Cairns yesterday gave the cheque to foodbank chairman Alan Plunkett in what has become an annual tradition for the port.

Mr Cairns said the organisation began making donations instead of giving gifts to its customers at Christmas after the fire at the Silver Fern Farms in Te Aroha in 2010.

"We decided that year we would do a donation instead of a gift. We got such a good response from that, we decided to keep doing it.

"Our customers were really happy to do it too."

Mr Cairns said the money went to the foodbank because it was a good cause.

"It does give you a good feeling when you come down here and see the volunteers working. It's certainly a needed service over Christmas.

"The foodbank is absolutely critical over Christmas. The food they give is just staples, clearly a lot of people are needing it."

The balance of the funds earmarked for corporate gifts was donated to a different charity selected by port staff each year. This year $4000 was donated to child cancer.

"It feels a lot better the $10,000 going to charities. The good thing is, our customers really support doing it as well.

"We've been donating to the foodbank for five years now, it's a really good cause."

The port has donated $6000 to the foodbank for the Christmas Appeal each year since 2011.

Port of Tauranga staff also do a staff food drive, with a collections box in place in their smoko room.

"This year, it's just chockablock."

As of yesterday, the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal had raised a total of $67,044 for the Tauranga Community Foodbank, made up of both monetary donations and food items valued at $2 an item.

-The next Bay of Plenty Times can drive will be held in Brookfield this Thursday. Staff members in blue T-shirts and foodbank volunteers will hit the streets from 5.30pm.