Collectors gathered at Masterton Fire Station. PHOTO/ELI HILL
ELI HILL
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Masterton Food Bank has declared a “record” Annual Food Bank Collection on Wednesday night.
Emergency services, community organisations, school students, businesses, clubs, and individuals gathered food from right around Wairarapa to replenish its three foodbanks.
Masterton Foodbank co-ordinator Lyn Tankersley said volunteers had packed 396 banana boxes of food – last year they packed 280.
“It was an absolutely fantastic night,” she said. “The community came to our assistance and that just goes to show the generous community spirit of this area that is fostered by its leaders.
“I think the volunteers were exhausted by the end of the night, but rapt at how much we collected.”
Tankersley said it was great to see the emergency services and students get behind the effort and thanked the Rotary Club of Masterton South for organising it.
In addition to goods collected on the night, Tankersley said there had been more food brought in on Thursday morning from places that had missed out on being collected.
“If people want to drop in their food, they can take it to the fire station, supermarkets, the foodbank and Masterton Paper Plus,” she said.