Rain didn't dampen the generous spirit of thousands of Dunedin residents who filled the Octagon with cans for the annual Presbyterian Support Octacan event yesterday.
From early in the morning, people from all walks of life placed cans in two large heart shapes among the puddles in the Octagon.
Presbyterian Support marketing and communications co-ordinator Su Anderson said the total number of cans donated was not yet known, but the response had been "absolutely amazing''.
"The number of cans has just grown each year as demand for the foodbank has grown each year too.
"There are certainly a lot more working people needing it than when this began in 2009.''
Dunedin early childhood centres and schools had been particularly generous this year, she said.
"One little boy came up to me with a can and said: ‘This is for a little boy who is hungry.'
"It is good we have got people in the community who are willing to help other people because most of us are one or two pay days away from being in need of the foodbank ourselves.''
The service hoped to collect 15,500 cans, up 8% on the 14,577 donated last year.
An 8% donation increase would match an 8% increase in demand for the foodbank.
It was hoped the Octacan collection would last until Christmas, Mrs Anderson said.
Contact Energy employee Katrina Sutton said her workplace paid her to volunteer one day a year and she always chose Octacan.
"Each year I am overwhelmed by the generosity of people who come,'' Ms Sutton said.
"Lots of people are retired, many of them are vulnerable themselves and they bring armfuls of cans.''
Dunedin busker Paul Honeybone said he had donated cans to the event since it began.
"It goes to a good cause.
"This year I wanted to bring four cans but I could only bring two.
"Maybe next time.''
