Tauranga Mount Taxis fills up a car with groceries for Community Foodbank

Tauranga Mount Taxis' Kamal Hossain and Stephanie Pearce dropped off $250 worth of groceries for the Tauranga Community Foodbank yesterday. Photo / John Borren

A challenge has been laid and the cause is worthy.

Tauranga Mount Taxis filled up a car with $250 worth of groceries yesterday and swung by the Bay of Plenty Times office on Cameron Rd to deliver them.

The company was looking for a community project and decided to support the Tauranga Community Foodbank.

"I feel like the cause, in terms of poverty and not being able to provide the very basics for your family, is something that can happen to anybody, so it really appealed to us," said Stephanie Pearce, sales and marketing co-ordinator for Tauranga Mount Taxis.

Last week the Times launched a Foodbank SOS appeal to help the organisation fill its shelves in the lead-up to winter.

Pearce said the company's taxi driver/owners all worked hard to earn a living and knew how quickly things could change.

"One day you're cruising along quite nicely and the next day, circumstances have changed and you're in need."

She said the donation was also about giving back to the Tauranga community, which had supported the taxi company for 50 years.

"I would strongly urge others to follow suit. I think it's something that we can do to support everybody. It shouldn't be a difficult thing to do. You never know when you're going to need it."

Pearce then narrowed the focus of that call to action.

"I would challenge all transport companies and all companies in general who are in a position to give a little, to just give a little."

Already, many members of the public, as well as companies and organisations, have done just that.

As of yesterday, $7561 cash and 2566 food items have been donated in the Foodbank SOS appeal.

Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin said tallying up the donations was an exciting part of her day.

"It certainly puts a smile on my face to know that these donations go straight back into the community we all live in. We take great care of the donations given to us and ensure that they are going where they are needed most."

Goodwin wanted to say "a sincere thank you" to every single person who had donated food and also for the many cash donations made via internet banking.

"We love hearing about the different challenges that the public come up with," she said of Tauranga Mount Taxis' call to action.

"A donation of $250 of food is a pretty big offer and it would be really awesome if other transport companies join in."