Can-do kids boost Christmas appeal

Glenholme School's Tyra Harrison (left), 11, Luca Allibone, 10, Lilli Harris-Dobbs, 11, and Jago Watson, 10, who got dressed up to help support the Christmas Appeal. Photo / Ben Fraser

When Lilli Harris-Dobbs told her younger schoolmates some kids went without food they were "kind of shocked".

The 11-year-old and her fellow young leaders at Glenholme School then spurred the pupils into action. The result was yesterday's dress-up day which raised more than $130 and "tons of cans of food" for the Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal to benefit the Salvation Army Foodbank.

Lilli said the school asked the children to help as the Salvation Army didn't have enough food at this time of the year.

"So we needed to bring food or money for families that can't support themselves."

Fellow young leader Tyra Harrison said she was pleased with the amount raised. "There are tons of cans."

Principal Nancy Macfarlane said the school had supported the Christmas Appeal for the past few years.

"When it really comes to the crunch as a community we are all there to support each other."

She said it wasn't a big ask, and the children enjoyed the dress up element of the day. They had been asked to come as something beginning with the letter their name started with.