Tomorrow, the city of Tauranga will be filled with the sound of sirens, but there’s no need to worry. This is part of the annual food bank drive, where emergency services will be going around the city to collect food donations.
Robert Pinkerton, a volunteer with Fire and Emergency New Zealand, said they organize this food drive every year to help people during the busy December period. This year, the collection will take place a week earlier than usual, on Tuesday, November 28.
The food drive will not only be in Tauranga, but also in Katikati, Ōmokoroa, Maketu, Mt Maunganui, and The Lakes. The sirens of fire engines, ambulances, and police vehicles will be used to signal their presence in these neighborhoods.
Robert revealed that more than 15 emergency vehicles will be participating in the collection day. “We hope to receive as much help as we can from the public, just like in previous years. We know there are many families that struggle to put food on their tables every day,” he said.
But it’s not just about collecting food. Robert added, “We enjoy seeing people come together to support these causes. Some even end up walking with the volunteers behind the emergency vehicles, which is truly inspiring.”
The Emergency Services Food Bank Drive will start at 5:30pm and end at 7:30pm on Tuesday, November 28.