It's filling empty bellies, teaching empathy – and it's growing good young men.

'It also says something about kids these days,” says Nicki Goodwin, co-ordinator of the Tauranga Foodbank. 'The parents and the teachers should be very proud, because I am proud of them.”

Year 11 Tauranga Boys' College studented matthew Vahai and Gabe Harre. Photo: Daniel Hines.

Nicki is about 142 banana boxes proud. Because that's what the students of Tauranga Boys' College rustled up for the school's annual foodbank appeal last year. Six-thousand food items, more than three items from each of the college's 1800 students.

Pasta sauce, curry simmer sauce, toothpaste, body wash, canned goods, rice risotto, peanut butter, rolled oats and Weet-Bix, flour, sugar, jelly, instant pudding and more – the full gamut.

And another food mountain has been building at the college – the boys have just finished another two-week appeal.

'An amazing contribution,” says Nicki. 'The guys absolutely lead the way with their organisation, their participation and then the end result.”

The end result was also tinned tuna, tinned salmon, tinned mackerel and cook-in-the-pot sachets. The works. Tomato sauce, coffee, tea, Milo.

The foodbank appeal has become part of the college's culture.

Firstly there's the altruism. 'It's about service, it's about teaching our boys to think of others and understanding the volume of people in our community who need support,” says Denise Fahey, who is TBC's learning support and foodbank co-ordinator.

And then there's the competitive aspect. 'Boys love a competition.”

They're awarded house points for each item donated. There's a trophy at stake. But dangle a free meal in front of a growing teenager and the contest takes on new intensity. The winning form class gets lunch at the food technology restaurant, and second and third receive square metres of pizza.

The foodbank gives the college a wish list of desirable items. Desirable but unaffordable for the foodbank. 'Last year it was tinned fish, salmon and tuna and mackerel,” says Nicki. 'It has really high nutritional value and can go a long way when added to other things.” Tauranga Boys' College ran with that and there was double points available. When the appeal ended there was enough fish for every food parcel.

'The college contribution means we can buy less. And the $1000 we spend a week on groceries can be put into quality, more nutritional things.”

And there are lessons to be learned.

The students visit the foodbank but never meet the clients because of privacy considerations. 'But they are very passionate about social issues. And we are obviously one of them,” says Nicki. The boys sort and pack food and they mentor and motive other students.

And there's good karma here because a lot of the students have been beneficiaries of the foodbank or know someone who has used it. 'We try to normalise it so there's no stigma.”

And tales of complete selflessness emerge. 'One boy, and he's not a wealthy boy, went shopping for things on our wish list with $20 of his own money,” says Nicki. And some of the students became aware some children getting food parcels were not getting birthday presents.

'There was another fundraiser and they bought some amazing gifts. Pencil cases, Lego. Not big presents but creative, relevant and meaningful stuff.”

And all this from the ranks of the so-called ‘me' generation.

'That's why the schoolwide focus this term has been on service and service to others,” says Denise. 'It's about getting boys to think outside their own little world, their own self and their own needs.”

At Tauranga Boys' College they're still sorting out who gets the Foodbank trophy and the lunch out and all the pizza. But more importantly, for those most in need there will be nourishment and comfort from 1800 teenagers in this city with a social conscience.