Generous fitness fanatics fork out for foodbank

Body and Soul director Dianne Mannington delivered six boxes of food collected by her fitness class to the Tauranga Community Foodbank.

A fitness group for over 50s has chipped in to do their part for the 2014 Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal.

Members of the Body and Soul fitness group run by Dianne Mannington managed to gather six big boxes of food to donate to the Tauranga Community Foodbank.

"The people from my group were actually very generous," Ms Mannington said. "It's the first time that we've ever done this."

Many of the members of her group already volunteered with charities but felt it was just another little thing they could do to help out a cause as worthwhile as the foodbank, she said.

"We know there's a need and when I think of young families in particular, especially when there's children ... it's just having a heart for people."

So far the appeal has raised $29,304.95 in cash as well as 12,112 items, each valued at $2, making it a total of $53,528.95.

More than 1800 items of food were collected during the three can drives run by Bay of Plenty Times staff and foodbank volunteers.