Opinion: Creativity adds to the Christmas spirit

Asha Reid, 9, and her sister Milla, 6, are forgoing their Advent calendars this year in favour of donating food to the foodbank. Photo/file

Creativity has really come to the fore in this year's Christmas Appeal.

One of my favourite parts of the job as appeal co-ordinator has been watching the many different ways people come up with to help the Tauranga Community Foodbank at this time of year.

Last week, we had a woman come into our office and donate a bundle of handmade children's aprons and handbags. They were lovingly and very well made and, as the ladies at reception told me, the woman who made them was not in good health, but wanted to make children happy at Christmas.

In the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, we published a story about a group of Te Puna kaumatua who set themselves a challenge to collect 200 tins of fruit throughout the year. These respected elders used their pensions to "fill tummies" at Christmastime and well exceeded their target by 43 cans.

Sisters Asha and Milla Reid, 9 and 6 years old, respectively, decided to give up their Advent calendars and instead give a tin of food each day to the foodbank.

All of the businesses at the 247 Cameron Rd building ran a can drive last week, challenging each other to see which could donate the most, and managed to fill a van three-quarters full with food and hygiene products.

These are but a few of the many examples of giving I have been privileged to witness in this year's appeal, which to date has raised $66,696 for the Tauranga Community Foodbank.

Every little bit donated has contributed to this whopping amount, from those people who managed to give a can, to those businesses generous enough to sign a large cheque.

With two weeks left to the appeal, I'm confident we'll be able to give foodbank clients a very merry Christmas.