Supported by The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM, the appeal runs until December 23 and aims to collect donations of food and money to help fill the foodbank’s shelves and assist the Salvation Army with its work through the Christmas period and into 2024.
This year, the appeal has raised $67,416.10 and comes at a time when many are struggling with a cost of living crisis. While food and money was welcomed, anyone wanting to help but struggling with this can consider donating their time.
Zorbs ready to go for the annual can-for-a-ride event as a part of the Rotorua Salvation Army Christmas Appeal.
Zorb general manager Steph Smith has been involved in the can-for-a-ride day for the past four years and said “the day is always a highlight for us”.
“We love to be able to do our bit for the community and it’s not a very nice time of year for the people needing foodbank.
For three cans, a person could go on a straight ride and for 10 cans they a straight ride and a sidewinder ride could be experienced.
The sidewinder ride is usually priced at $65 and is “the twistiest Zorb track ever constructed”, with one to two people per Zorb whizzing around six massive corners and sliding in 40 litres of water.
Mostly families attended this year’s even but people of all ages took part.
Harriet Laughton is a multi-media journalist based in the Bay of Plenty.