Christmas Appeal: Cafe to offer coffee in exchange for a can

Steven Greer and Dana Symons at Scope. Photo/Stephen Parker

The belief Christmas should be about seeing the smile on the face of a child is what prompted Scope Cafe's owners to take part in this year's Rotorua Daily Post Christmas appeal.

Cafe owner Dana Symons is offering a complimentary coffee to all customers who bring in a non-perishable item on Wednesday, November 29.

This year's Christmas Appeal, run in conjunction with the Rotorua Weekender and The Hits 97.5, is collecting non-perishable food and cash donations for the Salvation Army Foodbank.

"I've always donated as an individual to the appeal but this is the first time I have been involved as a business," Symons said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how things go but I'm picking it will be a huge success as our customers are fricken awesome."

Two years ago and after reading a story in the Rotorua Daily Post about a man who needed help, Symons rallied a couple of friends and collected gifts on his behalf.

"To see the look on his face when we presented them to him was just amazing and I believe that's what Christmas is all about.

"Children shouldn't have to be caught up in the stress and sometimes sadness that can reverberate throughout families at Christmas time.

"It's tough out there and getting tougher. The Salvation Army do a fantastic job but I'm sure it's tough for them too. Homelessness and poverty is not my issue, it's not your issue, it's a community issue and we need to come together as a community to help.

"The people who need help are people, not statistics, and Christmas is about people."

She and partner Steven Greer would be pushing the complimentary coffee day as much as they could on Facebook and Instagram and letting customers know in-store.

Scope Cafe is at 1296 Tutanekai St.