Law firm challenge to dig deep for foodbank

Mark Tingey and Sharline Fitzgerald of Holland Beckett are challenging other Bay businesses to donate their TECT cheque to the Christmas Appeal. Photo / Andrew Warner

A law firm's donation of its annual TECT cheque has kicked off the Christmas Appeal for the Tauranga Community Foodbank - and now the firm is challenging other businesses to do the same.

Holland Beckett Lawyers donated its TECT cheque, this year worth just under $1800, to the foodbank in what has become an annual tradition.

Partner Mark Tingey said the firm had donated its TECT cheque to the Tauranga Community Foodbank for more than five years.

"I'm surprised it hasn't caught on. We're challenging other businesses to do the same," he said.

"This is our way of passing the money on to those who might need it."

The foodbank's weekly costs come to about $1000, so Holland Beckett's donation will tide them over for almost two weeks.

"It's a good charity to support, we get the most bang out of our buck."

Practice manager Sharline Fitzgerald said because the foodbank was run entirely by volunteers, except for one paid employee funded through grants, the firm knew the donation would be going directly to the people it supported.

"The money is going to the actual beneficiaries of the gift, it's not being absorbed into administration."

Mrs Fitzgerald said families were under a lot of pressure at this time of year and it was nice to be able to assist them through giving aid to the foodbank.

"We would also like to give a big shout out to the volunteers who actually run the foodbank. We just give a little bit of cash, they are putting in a tremendous amount of effort year-round.

"The foodbank do a very good job of making sure the food goes to the people who need it."