Opinion: Community ensures Fill the Bus is another success

Rotorua, you rock.

We asked for your help to "Fill the Bus" for the Salvation Army and you did just that, making sure it was overflowing by the end of the day.

It was the second year the Fill the Bus 12-hour food drive, led by The Hits 97.5, with support from the Rotorua Daily Post, took to the streets and it proved to be another huge success.

Residents and local businesses wheeled out crates of food at every stop and the result was a positively brimming bus and beaming Sallies.

It was also great to see local schools get into the spirit, with children as young as 5 bursting to greet the bus and do their bit.

Otonga Rd Primary School pupils were dancing to Christmas tunes when the Sallies pulled up while Glenholme Primary School had a line-up of full trolleys at the ready.

The total amount raised is not yet known but I'd wager a guess it is in the thousands. Whatever the amount, the successful event is testament to the compassionate community we live in.

The hundreds of families who have turned to the Salvation Army in their time of need will be able to get hampers full of goodies, just in time for Christmas.

But it doesn't stop there. Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Salvation Army's foodbank will stay stocked for the majority of next year.

That's all down to you, Rotorua. Like I said, you rock.

- If you happened to miss our live updates of the event yesterday, check out our Facebook page and website, www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz.