Before you check your Christmas grocery bill and become tempted to brine the turkey in a pot of your own tears, let us share with you a bright spark.
For the past six weeks, the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times annual Christmas Appeals – supported by our NZME colleagues at The Hits and SunLive – have been collecting donations of food and money for the Rotorua Salvation Army Foodbank and the Tauranga Community Foodbank, respectively.
These organisations are incredibly important, ensuring thousands of families have access to healthy food at their toughest times.
We hold these appeals to rally support for the foodbanks every year, and every year we’re blown away by the generous response from our communities.
This year, we have had even more reason to marvel at the number of people, organisations and businesses willing to open their wallets and pantries to help make someone else’s Christmas.
In 2024, New Zealand has dipped in and out of recession, businesses big and small have gone under and many sectors have shed jobs.
The pinch followed a run of rough financial years in the long tail of the Covid-19 pandemic. Inflation soared and food costs especially shot through the roof, and haven’t come down.
It would not have been unreasonable if most people felt too stretched to give, or decided to dial it back this year.
We are heartened to report that does not seem to have been the case.
In both cities, people have donated tens of thousands of dollars and tens of thousands of kai items and other gifts.
A huge pile of toys donated by Rotorua Police donate to Fill the Bus. Photo / Aleyna Martinez
Our reporters have covered the stories behind many of these donations, from emergency service can drives and school collections to businesses big and small getting behind this good cause.
The invaluable staff and volunteers at the foodbanks have been working hard to make sure every donated tin, bag, box and jar of food is counted and prepared for gifting to those in our communities who need them.
In dark times, community spirit still shines through.
From our team, and those at the Tauranga Community Foodbank and Rotorua Salvation Army, we say a big thank you to everyone whose donations have helped make these appeals a success.
