Region's food banks benefit from donations

Food banks across the Bay will benefit from Bay of Plenty Regional Council's decision to again pledge $4000 instead of posting out Season's Greetings cards this year.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has sent electronic cards and donated what it would have cost to print and post these to the region's food banks.

As well as this monetary donation, staff members and councillors have been filling boxes at their offices with non-perishable food items.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chief Executive Mary-Anne Macleod said it's been a tough year for many and the region's food banks really needed help to assist members of the community who were not able to put food on the table.

"We've seen how appreciative the food banks were of the donation in previous years so we were more than happy to support them again this year," Ms Macleod said.

"This will be our third year running this initiative and we think it's a great way for us to get into the festive cheer and more importantly spread it around our communities."

"There's a lot of pressure on families in our region around this time of year so it's good to be able to relieve some of that pressure, even if it's only in a small way," Ms Macleod said.

"Supporting the region's food banks is a more sustainable approach to Christmas and the staff and councillors have really supported the effort."