Search for Jack: More than $36K raised

Community paddle out for Jack Dixon.

The Tauranga community has rallied behind the family of Jack Dixon, donating food, raising almost $36,000, organising a paddleout and candlelight vigils.

Welcome Bay man Aaron Hopping wanted to help, so he organised last week's vigils and penned a letter to the family yesterday.

"I was on Facebook and this fella made some comment to a local page just asking about if we could help in any way," he said.

"Someone said they wanted to go down to the beach with a candle but they couldn't make it. That's when it hit me, maybe that could be a big thing that the community could do."

Mr Hopping could not make it to the beach himself on Wednesday night but started posting all over Facebook calling for people to go down to the beach with candles that night.

"I went on Thursday night and it was a huge turnout.

"It was pretty overwhelming to see everyone had come down at such short notice."

A call for hot food for searchers was met with such a huge response the Mount Maunganui Surf Lifesaving Club asked people to hold off on bringing more food yesterday.

"OK, everyone - you have officially blown us away," the club posted on Facebook.

A Givealittle page for the family had raised almost $36,000 by last night.

Zoe Spargo posted her thanks for the donations on Facebook.

"Thank you to absolutely everyone who has donated to this! It really has made our search for Jack a lot easier, it's amazing to see the community come together and be there for one another. Even if [it] has just been a candle, food or a thought, thank you! Hope to hear good news today jacko, we need you home."