Editorial: Help to fill those shelves

'Tis the season to be generous to the less fortunate.

As the boxes start to fill up, so too are the tales of generous Rotorua folk starting to come in.

About 10 days ago we launched this year's Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal, in conjunction with the Rotorua Weekender and The Hits 97.5FM to benefit the Salvation Army Foodbank.

Since then we have featured stories of kind-hearted locals - such as foodbank manager Shelley Fischer and new volunteer Rakesh Prasad - who was helping out his new city mere months after moving from India to study.

It's been great to see some of the younger generation getting on board. On Saturday we reported how the 24 members of the 4th Rotorua Brownies walked the streets to collect several trolley loads full of food for the foodbank.

It was the girls' own idea, and not only did they help those less fortunate but learnt a few lessons in the process, according to their leader. Today we report how Chapman College student Alice Dobbie, 13, opted to use $50 she won in a competition to buy food for the foodbank rather than spend it on herself.

Not only that, but she and her friends have helped organise a mufti day at the school to raise more funds. Sometimes "kids these days" get a bad rap, but youngsters such as the Brownies and Alice are leading the way.

The teams at the Rotorua Daily Post and The Hits 97.5FM are hard at work organising a fun new event in aid of the appeal - more details will be revealed soon. Let's keep the momentum building. Other schools out there - what are you doing?

Businesses - how about a casual Friday for a can? Why not pop an extra tin in with your shopping this week? If everyone chips in, we can help make this Christmas, and a large chunk of 2016, a lot easier for those needing a helping hand. Whatever you do, don't forget to let us know, as we love to recognise your efforts.