Masterton Red Cross added another $5000 to their fundraising efforts, as Ten O'clock Cookie Bakery Cafe donated to their Christchurch earthquake appeal on Friday.
Bakery co-owner Michael Kloeg said the amount was raised through the generosity of the community.
"It sort of exceeded expectations," said Mr Kloeg.
The bakery sold nearly 8000 hot
cross buns in the six weeks leading up to Easter, and pledged to donate 70c per packet sold to the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal.
For the first four weeks, the company made red hot cross buns, and Mr Kloeg said people would often chuck their $5 or $10 change into the bucket.
Through the combined effort of the hot cross buns, and a donation bucket in the store, the bakery raised a total of $5438.90.
Red Cross area manager Vicki Matthews said an appeal was launched to put monetary donations in.
Various people and organisation in Wairarapa had donated nearly $50,000 to date, with Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History raising more than $20,000 in an art auction.
Programmes co-ordinator Sandy Grantham said seeing the devastation after the earthquake made her feel really blessed to be in Wairarapa, as she dealt with families escaping the ordeal.
"In the early days, parents were bringing kids in with piggy banks to donate," she said.
Go to www.redcross.org.nz to make a donation.
