City Mission Wanganui Food Bank drive on Thursday

Food bank coordinator Linda Taumoeanga with some of last year's collection of over 1200 parcels of food. Photo / Stuart Munro

Residents should listen out for sirens at about 6pm on Thursday as vehicles travel the city for the annual City Mission Wanganui Food Bank drive.

About 120 Wanganui Collegiate School volunteers will be collecting canned, packaged and other non-perishable food, as well as toilet and laundry items.

The drive is organised by the Rotary Clubs of Wanganui and last year their efforts resulted in
about 1200 parcels of food which were given to needy community members.

This is the 27th year of the drive in which residents are asked to bring items to the roadside or leave them by their letterbox by 6pm.

If you are not going to be home, the organisers ask that you leave your donation with a neighbour or drop something off at the City Mission office on Park Place.

The Rotary club of Wanganui North say this is an opportunity for the community to help those who are struggling to feed their families and offer them a genuine ray of hope.

"We extend a personal challenge to those who do care to join us, to make this Rotary drive the best ever."