With Christmas fast approaching, locals are being urged to get into the spirit and help Rotorua families who struggle to make ends meet.
The Rotorua Daily Post today launches its annual Christmas Appeal in conjunction with the Rotorua Weekender and The Hits 97.5FM, and has selected the Salvation Army Foodbankto receive donations of food and cash.
The organisation provides food and assistance, ranging from food parcels and budgeting advice to housing support and life skill courses, to hundreds of people across the Rotorua district each year.
Captain Brian Martin, Rotorua Salvation Army's community ministries manager, said this year the organisation had given food assistance 2493 times at a cost of $190,801. Those figures were about a 37 per cent increase on last year.
Mr Martin said it was evident more people were struggling to make ends meet due to reduced wages and benefits and rising costs, including a rise in electricity prices. Last year the Rotorua Daily Post Salvation Army Christmas Appeal raised more than $76,000 in food items and cash for the foodbank, which was nearly double the $38,500 raised in 2012.
Mr Martin said it was an overwhelming response from the community which went a long way to helping local families cope last Christmas and through this year.
"It was absolutely amazing to see so many people get involved and support us. It made such a difference, and it's very unlikely we would have been able to cope with the rising demand this year if it hadn't been for everyone's generosity with the appeal last year."
He said the food and money given, with the help of regular top-ups from Countdown and Foodstuffs, had lasted right through to this month.
However, in the past weeks the shelves had been stripped dramatically and they were now in need of more supplies for hampers to tide families over during the Christmas and New Year period, he said.
