Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal Fill the Bus schedule released

It's time to rummage through those cupboards - Fill the Bus is coming to a street near you!

The official schedule for the 12-hour food drive, led by The Hits with support from the Rotorua Daily Post, has been released, showing locals where the bus will be stopping throughout the day.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Reesby's have again donated the use of a bus, which will make its way around the city collecting non-perishable food items.

This year's drive has an added star factor with My Kitchen Rules contestants Tash and Hera helping out on the bus from 5pm.

The bus will hit the streets tomorrow, starting at the Redwoods Shopping Centre from 7.10am.

Fill the Bus 2017 public schedule.

From there the bus will stop at 25 locations around the city, including various schools and businesses not open to public drop-offs, before the goods are unloaded and counted at the Salvation Army from 6.20pm.

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 2018.

The hugely popular drive, which is now in its third year, collected 4298 items of food last year, easily surpassing the 3564 items collected in its first year.

A snapshot of the goods collected during last year's drive. Photo/supplied

The Hits 97.5 radio announcer Paul Hickey said he hoped this year's drive would be the biggest yet.

"We've had an amazing show of generosity over the past two years, and we're hoping that this year will be even bigger that last year.

"I love what The Hits are able to do for the community year round, but Fill The Bus is one of the most rewarding days of the year for us all. It's hard work, but so worth it."

Last week Salvation Army Rotorua Lieutenant Kylie Overbye said the whole team was geared up for the drive.

"It's a great opportunity to meet the community and hear people's stories."