Schools, retirement villages and organisations have been busy collecting cans preparing for Fill the Bus for the Salvation Army to do its fifth lap of the city.
All items collected will go towards the Rotorua Daily Post Salvation Army Foodbank Christmas Appeal
Check schedule below and find out when the bus is near you.
3pm: Western Heights Primary School, St Michael's Catholic School Kaitao Intermediate and Ngongotaha Primary School all made huge contributions in the afternoon trip.
Ngongotaha Primary School pupil Lachie Bootten said it was good to give back so people who couldn't afford food could have some.
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1.50pm: Ralph Overbye from the Salvation Army said this was the earliest the bus had ever filled up. Plans were being made to unload some of the donations at the food bank before heading out for more collections.
The Salvation Army van is now being used to collect items also.
Western Heights Primary School. Photo / Andrew Warner
Glen Harmer among all the donations. Photo / Andrew Warner
11.38am:
The next public stop for the bus is Skyline Rotorua carpark at 3.10pm. Make sure you get down there and donate to this great cause.
11.10am: Rotorua Primary came down with a roar, with every child equipped with a can to put on the bus. Pupil Ella Vincent, 9, said giving back meant that every child could have a fun Christmas.
She said if everyone can help out by giving food and presents,
10.43am: Lynmore Primary School have donated more than a thousand cans of food. They organised a mufti day where students brought a can to participate.
Lynmore pupil Charlotte Coleman, 11, said it was important to give back and help those "without much money" where they can. She said the mufti day for a can had been great and they had managed gather what looked like more than a thousand cans.
Lynmore Primary School. Photo / Andrew Warner
10.20am:
Rotokawa School is putting it on for Fill the Bus! Principal Regan Williams said Fill the Bus was a great way to teach the children how to give back to the community.
He said it helps them to understand how people out there are struggling and they are able to help.
Awhi educare Owhata. Photo / Andrew Warner
#FILLTHEBUS: Rotokawa School putting it on for Fill the Bus! https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503438&objectid=12290695
The bus has rolled into Otonga Road Primary School, the first of the school visits. Otonga student Keely Schmidt, 11 said she got involved this year as she wanted to do her bit for those in need.
Keely said she was super stoked with what the school had gathered. Great work guys!
Otonga Road Primary School students and their collection for the bus. Photo / Andrew Warner
8.41am:
The bus is at the St Andrews Shopping Centre until 9am. Rachel Rowe brought down the first donation. She said she comes down every year to donate. Thanks Rachel!
The bus is parked up at the Redwood Shopping Centre, the traditional start off point for Fill the Bus. Barnaby Bear has turned up with the Salvation Army team!
Barnaby Bear and the Salvation Army team.
Earlier:
Today is the big day Rotorua!
Schools, retirement villages and organisations have been busy collecting cans preparing for Fill the Bus for the Salvation Army to do its fifth lap of the city.
Boxes of cans and treats will be sitting at the ready this morning awaiting the moment the green CityRide bus rolls into their stop.
All items collected will go towards the Rotorua Daily Post Salvation Army Foodbank Christmas Appeal, which aims to restock the organisation's foodbank in time for Christmas and into 2020.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Ritchies have again donated the use of a bus, which will make its way around the city collecting non-perishable food items over 10 hours.
The bus will hit the streets from 8am, starting at the Redwoods Shopping Centre.
From there the bus will stop at 20 locations around the city, including public shopping destinations, various schools and businesses.
The route will wrap up about 6pm and all the goods will be unloaded and counted at the Salvation Army.
The drive collected 5844 items in last year's run - a record for the event.
