The Tauranga Community Foodbank has received more than $265,000 worth of cash and food donations from the 2025 Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal, a final count reveals.

The updated tally includes the final cash donations and most recently donated food items, with the donations expected to help thousands of families.

“You are the difference between people eating or not,” said foodbank general manager Nicki Goodwin.

When the annual appeal began in November, the need for longer-term support was rising.

The Tauranga Community Foodbank supported 23,618 people over the past year and distributed 9520 kai packages.

The service experienced a 145% increase in people needing a full week of food support since last year.

Goodwin said the foodbank was “absolutely delighted” with the 29,962 food items donated during the appeal, with more expected over the next week.

“The care that people put into choosing what to donate is evident.

“It is so great to have a few extra things to include for people, such as muesli bars, coffee and biscuits.”

The $176,145.98 in financial donations would go “a long way” towards covering grocery bills for the next five months.

While this was less than last year’s record tally, Goodwin said this was “no doubt due to people finding themselves unable to afford to give as they may once have”.

“Every dollar donated will go towards purchasing the necessary food items to make sure we can help out with great kai.

“Nothing fancy, but good, nutritious everyday foods that will nourish.”

Christmas goodies donated to the Tauranga Community Foodbank during the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell

Since the beginning of the appeal in mid-November, Goodwin said more than 3000 people had been supported with food, including 1595 children.

“Over the coming months, we expect the appeal will assist another 10,000 people.”

She said the lead-up to Christmas was “pretty hectic” but also very rewarding.

“Nothing better than seeing the smiles from people who are so grateful to receive this support.”

Large donations during the appeal included $20,000 from the Port of Tauranga, and Hillsdene Charitable Trust also contributed $20,000.

Tauranga Crossing collected donations through its Christmas gift-wrapping service. It presented a cheque for $7361 to the foodbank on Tuesday.

The shopping centre also donated 30 decorated Christmas trees and a $500 grocery voucher to families supported by the foodbank earlier in the appeal.

Tauranga Crossing senior marketing manager Lana Stretton said supporting the foodbank was a “natural choice”.

“Demand for food support continues to grow, and donations help ensure people have access to necessities with dignity.”

Tauranga Community Foodbank general manager Nicki Goodwin (left) and Tauranga Crossing senior marketing manager Lana Stretton (right). Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell

Stretton said the response from the community was “incredibly generous”, with thousands of customers contributing to the $7361, up from $6602 in 2024.

The shopping centre was also a collection point for food donations during the appeal, along with libraries across Tauranga City and the foodbank depot.

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

Each food item was valued at an average $3, totalling $89,886 towards the combined appeal tally of $266,031.98.

In the 2024 appeal, a record-breaking $316,904.17 was donated – $220,586.17 in cash and $96,318 in food.

The 2025 appeal included fundraising efforts such as The Hits collection with Ingham Tauranga, where more than 500 food items were collected and delivered to the foodbank.

The emergency services food drive was a huge success, with more than 9000 items donated from the Pyes Pa and Mount Maunganui areas.

Bay of Plenty Times deputy editor Samantha Motion said seeing the total donated during the appeal was always an inspiring way to start the new year.

“Our generous community always comes to the table for the foodbank.

“To give more than a quarter of a million dollars in grocery items and cash in a matter of weeks is an incredible gesture of support for this charity’s vital work.”

Goodwin said her final message to the community was that she wanted every single person who contributed to take a moment and realise just how amazing they are.

“You are a part of protecting the mana of people who are really struggling to make ends meet.

“Our community would not be what it is without the wrap-around kindness of others.”

Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.

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