Probus members rally to help out needy at foodbank

Instead of arriving at a Christmas dinner waiting for food, members of Tauranga/Te Papa Probus Club arrived with food in tow.

Probus members each contributed to three large boxes packed with assorted goods for the Tauranga Community Foodbank this week. They did so at their Christmas get together.

Committee member Kay Pilmore said the donation to the foodbank was strongly supported by club members.

"We were at a committee meeting and we went around the table saying 'now what can we do?' and various things were put forward, then I said 'hang on, what about the foodbank?' "

Mrs Pilmore said the club was aware of the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Foodbank appeal and everyone agreed the organisation was a worthy cause.

"A lot of the people at the club are a little bit older but they really came in force [in support of the foodbank]."

Mrs Pilmore and husband Lance dropped the heavy boxes off at the Bay of Plenty Times reception.

Bay of Plenty Times staff and foodbank volunteers collected 723 items during their third and final can drive in Tauranga South on Monday night.

During the three street collections 1852 items of food were donated.

So far more than $19,600 in cash has been donated along with 11,368 items of food, valued at $2 each, bringing the total donated to $42,205.95.

Last year's appeal raised more than $86,000 for the organisation.

The appeal wraps up on December 20.