Rotorua Salvation Army Corps officer Hana Seddon. Photo / Andrew Warner
Rotorua Salvation Army Corps officer Hana Seddon. Photo / Andrew Warner
An estimated 1440 items valued at more than $3600 have been donated to Rotorua’s foodbank as Rotorua Daily Post’s Christmas Appeal reaches its halfway mark.
The Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal, in combination with the Rotorua Weekender and The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM, is working to raise food and money forthe foodbank to help it feed those in need this Christmas and beyond. This year’s appeal runs until Friday, December 23.
Rotorua Salvation Army Corps officer Hana Seddon said so far there had been about 1100 items of food donated, plus 340 items from Mamaku Volunteer Fire Brigade’s food drive. With a $2.50 value assigned to each item — up from $2 last year due to the rising cost of living — this amounted to about $3600 worth of donations.
The community has rallied in many ways over the past three weeks to gather donations for the appeal.
Some examples include the Ngongotahā Medical Centre collecting items, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology barista students holding a Cans for a Coffee event, and Mamaku locals donating 340 cans after the Mamaku Volunteer Fire Brigade hit the streets for its annual food drive.
Mamaku Volunteer Fire Brigade station officer Kirstin Johnston (left) and station chief John Roe. Photo / Maryana Garcia
And the appeal action is not slowing down any time soon, with many other initiatives in the works over the next three weeks.
This year’s The Hits Fill the Bus event will take place on Wednesday, with a bus rumbling around the city so people can fill it with canned and non-perishable goods.
Schools, ECEs, businesses and public stops will be visited by the team to pick up donations.
Last year, the community donated 6597 cans and food items valued at $13,194 through the Fill the Bus campaign.
Fill the Bus public drop-off times.
Also on Wednesday, coffee and donations are promised to pour in at Rotorua’s Scope Cafe as patrons are encouraged to get behind its Coffee for a Can Day.
The cafe will be supporting the appeal by rewarding generous customers with a free coffee.
More information about Scope’s Can for a Coffee Day will be available on the cafe’s website and social media channels.
The community can also get donations rolling in when Zorb Rotorua holds its annual Can Day on Sunday, December 11.
On Can Day, people with proof of a Rotorua address will be able to score a maximum of two free rides per person.
More details about Zorb’s Can Day will be available on their website. Bookings are essential.
Zorb Rotorua is inviting locals to come along to its annual Can for a Ride day in support of the Salvation Army foodbank, pictured is Zorb crew member Koan Hemana. Photo / Andrew Warner
Latest figures show that within the first 10 months of this year, the Salvation Army provided kai to the value of $87,000 to those in need compared with $46,000 in 2019 before Covid — a rise of about 89 per cent.
Rotorua Daily Post editor Scott Inglis said the Christmas tree in the Daily Post office had continued to be surrounded by generous donations.
“The first half of this year’s appeal has flown by quickly, and we greatly appreciate all the donations so far.
“With a number of upcoming events and donations scheduled, we can’t wait to see what else the generous Rotorua community gives during these next three weeks of the appeal.”
Last year, a total of $65,792.10 was raised for the foodbank through cash and food donations.
This year, the appeal comes at a time when many are struggling with the cost of living crisis. While donations of food and money are welcomed, anyone wanting to help but struggling with this can consider donating their time.
