Centres instil joy of giving

Earlybirds Educare children help with the collection. From left, Ava Michelle-Donnelly, Emma Hay, Paige Biddle, Ryan Peters and Jayda Upoko. Photo / Stephen Parker

Hundreds of nappies and boxes of food are headed the Salvation Army's way thanks to Earlybirds Educare.

The childcare centre has jumped on board to support the Rotorua Daily Post's annual Christmas Appeal to fill the shelves of the local foodbank in the lead-up to the busy Christmas season.

Hannah Crockford said it was the first time the centre had got behind the appeal and they'd been thrilled with the response.

Children across the three centres Earlybirds runs were asked to bring in items to donate, while the centre had donated several hundred nappies to the appeal.

"Everyone's response was that it was a really good idea.

"Everyone was really keen to help and the boxes filled up really quickly. It makes you feel good to help someone else and it's that sense of giving."

Centre complex manager Sarah Benfell said Earlybirds was delighted to donate the nappies ranging from newborn's through to toddlers' pull-ups.