Variety show helps stock foodbank

Greerton Mainstreet manager Sally Benning is getting ready for next week's Christmas variety show. Photo / John Borren

CELEBRATING Christmas as a community and helping struggling families goes hand in hand at Greerton Village.

Next Friday, the annual Greerton Village Christmas Variety Show will entertain crowds for the small fee of a non-perishable food item or gold coin donation for Tauranga Community Foodbank.

Greerton Village has been collecting donations for the foodbank at its annual show for three years and has this year ordered four large bins to hold the food.

Greerton Mainstreet manager Sally Benning said the foodbank was a great charity to support at Christmas time.

.

"We understand and appreciate that not everyone is as lucky at Christmas time as some of us are.

"Hopefully the people who come along and donate something are helping someone else to have a better Christmas than they would have had."

Local performers include a ventriloquist, Greerton Village School's kapa haka group and Hindi disco dance group, and the Oriana Singers.

The Salvation Army Band will be playing traditional Christmas music, as will the Tauranga Silver City Band.

Accordionist Graham Lusby will also perform. Santa and his sleigh will be there with lollies for the children.

There will also be two giant slides, face painting and pony rides. Will Johnston from The Hits will MC the event and there will be spot prizes handed out to people in Christmas dress throughout the evening.

The event is held at Greerton Village School and fundraising stalls for the school will also be part of the show, including candy floss, sausage sizzle and toffee apples.

If Friday is wet, the event will be held at the Greerton Hall.

The event starts at 6pm and runs until about 8pm.