Customers help to boost food bank (+video)

Rotorua's Resene ColorShop has collected 392 cans of food for the Hunger for Colour campaign to go towards Rotorua Salvation Army food bank.

The campaign ran for the second year throughout February, with cans of food being swapped for 55-80ml testpots of Resene paint at 65 Resene ColorShops around the country.

Mareikura Winiata, Rotorua Resene ColorShop manager, said more than 24,000 cans were collected nationwide this year.

Resene marketing manager Karen Warman said the firm first collected cans after the Canterbury earthquakes for The Salvation Army.

She said staff and customers had loved the idea and the company had been looking for ways to give back ever since.

Last year the campaign saw more than 20,000 cans swapped for the testpots nationwide.

"The campaign has generated fantastic feedback once again. People liked donating food knowing it was going directly to help someone in need and the testpots are a popular, versatile product which encouraged people to come in.

"The stores loved it, customers loved it and we loved it."

Miss Winiata said people enjoyed giving and for some it was their first time doing so.

"It was awesome to see not just the mums and dads, but elderly people right down to the little ones coming in to choose their colours."

Rotorua Salvation Army Major Rex Rees said: "Rotorua is very generous in that way. They are a wonderful community.

"Generally throughout the year we get tremendous support. It all goes back to the community."

He said when there was an appeal people rose to the challenge.

"We receive and give back to the community."