The firm collects food and donates cash every year
Cooney Lees Morgan (CLM) is commemorating a dozen years of supporting the Tauranga Community Foodbank this year, reported the NZ Herald.
Every year, the firm collects food and donates $5,000 in cash. According to marketing manager Kay George, the firm organises the drive annually during the Bay of Plenty Christmas appeal.
“We know that Tauranga Community Foodbank has been around for a long time and is one of those charities that services the community right at the heart of where it is needed. This year things have gotten tougher and so many people are having to ask for help that have never had to before”, George said in a statement published by the Herald.
She said that CLM urges other companies in the building to participate in what has become the firm’s tradition. The firm collates Christmas treats, chocolates, tinned goods, nappies, toothpaste and soup; it has also received dried pasta, biscuits and rice through donations.
“It’s so hard for people having never asked for community help and we know that the foodbank is like a warm, comfy blanket where they gather you in and do not judge you asking for help,” George said.
She touted the success of past collection drives and highlighted how building tenants are also getting into the spirit, giving the firm the go signal to proceed with this year’s drive. Contributors to the 2024 drive include Bayleys/Eves Realty, Baker Tilly Staples Rodway and KPMG.
“We do not have the resources to go out and about collecting donations ourselves, so having others willing to do this on our behalf is such a godsend”, said Tauranga Community Foodbank general manager Nicki Goodwin. “This December is already 20% busier than last year, tough times out there for a lot of people”.
She explained that the need for food support rose by 40% from May to December. In the past year, the foodbank has provided for the needs of 7,862 households.
Goodwin confirmed that CLM generally reaches out to get the foodbank’s wish list of items before collection. This year, the wish list included cereals, Christmas treats, spreads and tinned soup; the foodbank also welcomed contributions of drinking chocolate, instant coffee, canned fruit, muesli bars and tinned fish.
