A record-breaking $262,060.39 worth of food and cash donations has been raised for the Tauranga Community Foodbank in this year’s Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal.

The preliminary tally eclipses the last record, from 2022, of $256,471 – with donations still to be counted.

Two major business donations capped off the last official week of the appeal, and came as the foodbank experienced December demand unlike anything seen in a decade.

The Port of Tauranga donated for the 15th year running, giving $15,000 and 50 buckets of Christmas cookies, while Synergy Technologies contributed $10,000 for the fourth year.

The six-week appeal, supported by The Hits Bay of Plenty 95.0FM, started on November 9 and wraps up today, but financial donations can continue to be made via the foodbank’s website. A final tally will be revealed in the new year.

The appeal aimed to replenish the foodbank’s shelves, offer Christmas treats to people who may otherwise have none and give the foodbank a financial boost coming into the new year.

Last year’s appeal attracted $251,663 in donations – $168,651 in cash and 33,205 food items valued at $2.50 each, totalling $83,012.

As of 8am Friday, $173,257.39 in cash donations had been collected this year, plus 29,601 food items, each item valued by the foodbank at $3.

Nicki Goodwin, general manager at the Tauranga Community Foodbank, said this month the foodbank had supported more than 560 households with about 1400 people, including 751 children. She said 17,160 meals had been provided.

Her message to everyone who had supported the appeal was: “Thank you for trusting us.

“Thank you for giving and supporting your community because we’re just the tool with which it all happens.

“The community put us here, they support us, and we just managed those resources. That’s our job.”

Goodwin said the food donations received over the past six weeks would help the foodbank get through the next couple of months and cash donations would help buy groceries for about six months.

“It will help give us that buffer. It is a bit scary how much food is going out a day. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve been here 11 years.”

Goodwin said the support from the appeal was “100% vital” and without it, the foodbank would have to completely change how it operates and how many people it could help with food.

“It would be a completely different operation.”

Foodbank chairman Simon Beaton said “a big thank you really understates it”.

“We were just bowled over by the support, you run out of superlatives and can only say thank you so many times, but it really is the most enormous thank you.

“We are going to meet, or nearly meet our goals, which is excellent and that comes down to the community.”

Simon Beaton, Tauranga Community Foodbank chairman, receives the Port of Tauranga donation from chief executive Leonard Sampson. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell

Big business donations cap off appeal

Leonard Sampson, Port of Tauranga chief executive, said he acknowledged there were challenging times for a lot of people, especially at Christmas, so the donation was a small way to support the community.

“It’s that time of the year when families have got greater levels of pressure financially and in any way we can assist in that perspective then it’s a great way to do that.”

Sampson said he had been at the port for over a decade, and a foodbank donation had happened every year.

“The need is there, and it’s something that resonates well with us.

“We recognise we’re a privileged business in the community and we support a lot of families, but anything we can do to help those that are less fortunate, we’re really happy to do so,” Sampson said.

Synergy Technologies have been supporting the foodbank since 2020, company director Rachel McKean said.

“We are honoured to be able to continue supporting the foodbank. They provide such an important service and we want to do what we can to make sure they are able to keep supporting our community.

“The holidays are often a stressful time for many families, and we believe every bit of generosity can help make a difference.”

Handmade Christmas stockings filled with goodies for families this Christmas donated by a long-time foodbank supporter. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell

The 2024 appeal saw many other significant cash donations roll in from Tauranga organisations, including $3000 from Craigs Investment Partners, $6000 from Mount Maunganui Golf Club, and $5000 from Tremains Tauranga as part of its wider appeal.

Tauranga Crossing jumped on board to support the appeal as a drop-off donation point and had its retailers decorate 20 Christmas trees that were donated to families, along with a $500 Pak’nSave voucher for groceries. Its donation was not yet complete, with donations from a gift-wrapping service still being collected.

Individuals backing the appeal included Louise “Boss Lady” Watson, whose annual food drive collected just under 1000 items, and a longtime foodbank supporter who hand-made Christmas stockings filled with goodies for families.

More than 150 donations rolled in at The Hits Christmas Movie in the Park and the annual combined emergency services food drive brought in over 6000 goodies.

Goodwin expressed her immense gratitude for the 2024 appeal: “Thank you in great big capital bold letters with lots and lots and lots of exclamation marks is still not sufficient.

“I want to say thank you to our volunteers, our board, our donors, our supporters because you’ve done it for other people.

“That is really the heart and soul of it.”

Bay of Plenty Times editor Kim Gillespie said the community’s generosity was heartwarming but not surprising.

“We knew our readers would come to the party to help out those who need it.”

How to donate

Financial donations can be made by visiting the foodbank’s website, taurangafoodbank.co.nz, or direct to its bank account: 03-0435-0482117-00.