Bay shows it's all about giving as $53k pours in

Coast Papamoa Beach residents Jo Timbs (left), Jill Orr and Liz McMaster and Coast Papamoa Beach office manager Jess Henry get into the spirit of the season with their foodbank donation.

More than $10,500 in cash donations were delivered to the Tauranga Community Foodbank yesterday, bringing the total raised through the 2014 Bay of Plenty Times Christmas appeal to $53,528.95 so far.

Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin said an "amazing" number of donations had been delivered to the building on Dive Cres yesterday, including anonymous donations of $3000 and $5000.

Cash donations so far total $29,304.95 as well as 12,112 items, each valued at $2.

Among those to give are the residents of Coast Papamoa Beach who dug into their pockets - and their pantries - to spread Christmas cheer.

By combining their Christmas get-together with a collection, they raised a generous donation of food items for the Tauranga Community Foodbank.

Coast Papamoa Beach director Steve Short said the evening was designed for Coast residents to get to know each other better while doing their bit to help others.

"The evening was about strengthening the community here at Coast, and donating to the Foodbank is in synergy with that. For those of us who are privileged to live comfortable lives, it is an opportunity to give to those in less fortunate circumstances," he said.

"I hope in some small way our donations bring some Christmas cheer at what can be a very stressful time of year for some people."