It collects donations of food and funds to help fill the Rotorua Salvation Army foodbank’s shelves, assisting its work through the Christmas period and into next year.
The fundraiser usually runs for a single day, but Fabling believed yesterday’s downpour likely kept people away.
He said the morning brought some “veteran” supporters through the door, and non-perishable items quickly began lining the cafe’s stairwell.
Former owners Dana and Steve Greer returned today to help on the coffee machine, keeping things moving during the busy patches.
Fabling said the response had been “really nice”, especially for someone still finding his rhythm on just day two of the job.
But the staircase wasn’t full – and “we want to fill [it]”, Fabling said.
He’s hopeful the extended hours will help them reach that goal.
He encouraged locals not to let the weather deter them, reminding them “a little bit of rain never hurt anybody”.
Fabling expects some of today’s customers will come back with a second round of cans, but said he doesn’t mind “double dippers” if it means more families can be supported.
The Salvation Army will collect the full haul once the extended appeal wraps up at lunchtime.
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.
