Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal a whopping success

BIG SMILE: Heavenly Franklin, 2 (front), with mum Wilhemena Salmon and sister Wairua Franklin, 1, is thrilled to be getting presents from the Salvation Army this Christmas. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

The money has been counted, the food packed, the gifts wrapped and the results recorded - now it's time for Rotorua to celebrate.

After banding together to help families in need this Christmas, the Rotorua community has raised a whopping $44,169 worth of food and gifts for the Salvation Army foodbank, as part of the Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal.

The appeal has been running since mid-November and has seen hundreds of locals, businesses, clubs, trusts, schools and even preschools get behind it and donate thousands of dollars, food items and gifts, making it one of the most successful Christmas appeals to date.

Over the past year the Salvation Army has seen a 35 per cent increase in the number of people coming to them for help. The number of clients swells around Christmas, with many families finding it hard to feed themselves, let alone put presents under the tree.

Salvation Army Community Ministries manager Shelly Fischer said while the organisation struggled to keep up with demand, it tried to assist as many families as it could, giving hampers to 120 families this Christmas. The hampers were filled with non-perishable food and a few treats and presents, which would hopefully keep the cupboards full well into the New Year and give the children something to be happy about, she said. "Some of these families have had a very rough year, whether it's having a family member fall very ill or pass away, losing their job, having their work hours cut, or whatever reason, it's been hard for them to make ends," she said.

"For them to get these hampers, it puts a positive spin on their year and gives them something to smile about. Seeing that we can do that makes all the hard work worth it."

One of the many people the organisation has helped is Wilhemena Salmon, who yesterday received a hamper for her and her four children.

She said she was so grateful to the Salvation Army.

"It [their support] makes me happy. It's a relief and eases a lot of pain," she said. "I guess it makes Christmas feel like Christmas and puts smiles on their [her children's] faces ..." Earlier this month, the Rotorua Daily Post and The Hits held a food drive for the cause, with volunteers hitting the streets around the city to collect food items and cash, collecting a total of 5777 items, worth more than $12,000. Other significant donations to the appeal were made by the Rotary Rotorua Sunrise, Scion, the Freemasons, Countdown, Waiariki Institute of Technology, The Baytrust, McDowell Professionals, Living Well Church and Glenholme School, among others.

The Rotorua Daily Post and the Salvation Army would like to thank everyone who supported the appeal.