Residents dig deep for final foodbank appeal

Reporter John Cousins receives donations from Tauranga South residents Jess Sherry and Greg Taingahue during last night's Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal can drive. Photo / George Novak

Tauranga South residents dug deep when volunteers came knocking to collect for the 2014 Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal last night.

Bay of Plenty Times staff and foodbank volunteers hit the streets to knock on doors around Sixteenth Ave, Seventeenth Ave, Eighteenth Ave, Devonport Rd and Fraser St, collecting donations of food for the Tauranga Community Foodbank.

Residents gave generously when volunteers came calling in the last of three street collections.

Reporter Amy Wiggins said the Tauranga South community was generous in their giving.

"Residents were only too happy to give to such a good cause," she said.

"They dug into their own pantry in order to help those who struggle to put food on the table on a daily basis let alone rustle up enough for a Christmas dinner."

Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin estimated more than 400 items were collected.

This year's previous can drives saw 424 items collected in Greerton and 705 cans collected in Bellevue.

As of Friday, more than 8000 items had been donated, along with more than $18,000 cash, bringing the total donated to $34,650.95.

Individuals, families, schools, businesses and community groups donated more than $206,000 worth of food and cash during the past three appeals.

A total of $86,496.95 was raised last year.