Motoring dash yields big haul for Tauranga foodbank

An Amazing Race-style food collection pulled in a huge haul of goodies for the Tauranga Community Foodbank.

Edvance Workplace Training organised a multi-business collection in mid-November and yesterday collected the donations for the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal.

About 30 boxes of food were collected in total, which filled three cars.

Edvance organised the collection knowing it had a wide range of contacts it could make use of and 22 businesses from Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Tauriko took part.

Instructional designer Hayley McIsaac said teams went out yesterday morning in pairs to collect food from the participating businesses, a task which all had enjoyed immensely.

"It has been super positive. As soon as we turned up to some places, we had people looking out for us. There was a really good community feel.

"One business said they like doing this sort of thing but having someone collect for them prompted them more because they could get a couple of boxes and didn't have to worry about organising it all, it was all taken care of."

Ms McIsaac said the collection got a great result, especially as it was the first year Edvance had attempted anything like this.

"We would love to make this an annual thing.

"We have had so much fun. Doing the collections almost turned into the Amazing Race."

Tauranga Community Foodbank board member Sharon Hitchcock said the collection was a real win as those involved felt good about giving and the individuals and families receiving the food benefited from that.

"I just think it's fantastic. I love how it creates that involvement from so many parts of the community. It gives us more to offer people when they come to get their parcels."

Hayley McIsaac from Edvance (left) and Sharon Hitchcock from Tauranga Community Foodbank unload a huge haul of food. Photo / John Borren

Participating businesses

* Family Osteopaths
* Mount Maunganui RSA
* Ricoh
* Hair To Train
* Legacy Accountants
* Stratum
* Ignition
* Priority One
* Kale Print
* Powerco
* SHARE
* Classic Builders
* Foot Stop
* Signature Homes
* Kiwi Bus
* Ace Furniture Freight
* HK Kitchens
* The Roofing Store
* Marshall Innovation
* MetalCraft Roofing
* Health House
* World Organic
* Edvance