Tauranga Community Foodbank is receiving a generous donation at a time where on some days they are "three times" as busy compared to previous years.

The Tauranga City Sunrise Lions Club is donating $1000 to help the foodbank's warehouse supply more food to those in the community who are in need.

The foodbank this year alone has assisted more than 6000 households with groceries, helped 18,000 people within the Tauranga community, and given enough food to create more than 216,000 meals.

Warehouse manager Jordy Gastmeier says the foodbank currently spends "so much money" during the year for the food items they need.

"This donation will help us buy a pallet of UHT milk. It's hard to estimate how many people this will help alone as the price of milk just keeps going up," says Jordy.

Jordy adds this generous donation has come at a time where it is "very well needed" as more people are turning to foodbanks with the rising cost of living.

"Since Covid-19 started, we've seen a huge rise in families needing help. We're up about 30 per cent at least. Some days we are handing out about three times more parcels than the year before. We're definitely a lot busier, and have a lot of new clients. There's a lot of hardship out in the community."

"Leading up to us closing down for 10 days over Christmas, we like to help everyone out in the community that needs it before we open back up on January 5.

Jordy says without organisations like the Tauranga City Sunrise Lions Club, they would not be able to operate.

"We rely on organisations like the lions club. We wouldn't be giving such a good service and handing out around 5000 meals a week without their support."

Tauranga City Sunrise Lions Club president Mark Jacobsen says the more their club can do for the community, the better.

Tauranga City Sunrise Lions Club president Mark Jacobsen, left, and member Ken Evans. Photo: SunLive.

"We've been donating to the foodbank for a number of years. We are very grateful that through Covid-19, we have been able to continue to raise funds and make donations," says Mark.

According to Mark, the club has raised their funds for this donation primarily through chopping wood and selling it, along with the yearly magic show they have started up again this year after the Covid-19 restrictions ending.

Jordy says she, along with the rest of the foodbank, is extremely grateful for the donation.

"Everybody needs to eat, and we are here to help people who are going through hardships, or even if there is a week where they can't afford everything they need."