Tauranga’s emergency services served kindness on December 4, extinguishing hunger with a food drive. Locals fed hope and stacked canned goods.

The Salvation Army invited SunLive to walk around Otūmoetai, and staff member Bazz Lowe was a guide.

“It is my second year doing this, and each time, I am blown away at the kindness of the people we meet,” he said.

A massive group of volunteers met at Buretta Countdown to collect food on December 4.

A group of nearly 100 people met at 5.15pm at Buretta Countdown, with groups of three dispersed into different areas around Otūmoetai.

Lowe and the Salvation Army made their way up Hinewa Rd, eventually onto Freyberg St and Ngati Rd.

An escort of Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Hato Hone St John Ambulance flashed sirens and blared Christmas carols, attracting the neighbours in droves.

“People must wonder what is going on,” he said.

During the evening, one resident of Otūmoetai had come out of their house wondering if someone had been mugged, she said.

After being reassured that everything was okay, she ducked back into the house and brought out cans of food and money.

“That is all I have. I hope it is okay.”

The street team for the Salvation Army.

After the Emergency Services food drive, Lowe said the food was returned to the Salvation Army on Cameron Rd for storage.

The residents of Otūmoetai donated two tonnes of food to the Salvation Army.

The food items included baked beans, spaghetti, tuna, pasta and pork chops.

Salvation Army manager, Sarah Way.

The organisation split into two teams: one collected food, while the other loaded it into the food bank, Salvation Army Manager Sarah Way explained.

There were 14 members of the community managers team and 10 volunteers assisting with unloading, Way said.

“I also would add that would like to thank all the volunteers that assisted coming together to make this all happen.

“We couldn’t have achieved this great result without them.

“Today is a fine example of Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi [With your basket and my basket, we will sustain everyone.]"

It would all be weighed and divided up for invited families coming in the following week for the Salvation Army Christmas party, Way said.