Masterton food appeal fills shelves

LITTLE HELPERS: Lily Hunt from Lakeview School helps out at the Masterton Foodbank street collection at Masterton Fire Station.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Sirens called for donations at Masterton Foodbank's street appeal on Wednesday night, collecting an estimated "220 banana boxes full of food", organisers say.

Co-ordinator Lyn Tankersley said the street collection, centred out of Masterton Fire Station was fantastic, with many keen volunteers of all ages including children from St Patrick's and Lakeview School.

"We had an amazing collection of people from young to older helping," she said. "The kids just went on and on all night.

"It was just incredible. I would say there was probably 50 people at the fire station doing the sorting, and there would have been another 50 doing the street collection.

"Masterton South Rotary just did the most awesome job of driving it all. It just went very well without any hitches."

Mrs Tankersley said each banana box contained about 40 cans of food but that people also donated Christmas items, biscuits, baking goods and pasta.

"Thank you to the people of Masterton who gave so generously last night for our Masterton community."

The team of volunteers finished earlier than last year, locking up just after 8pm.