Every year, Taieri College has managed to donate mountains of cans to the Presbyterian Support Otago’s (PSO) annual Octacan appeal.
The school’s success is largely down to departing teacher Gerry Fuss.
However, this week’s collection is to be his last.
He is leaving Taieri College after 19 years to take a position teaching mathematics at an international school in Singapore.
In 2019, Mr Fuss took charge of the school’s student council and with it came the responsibility of helping students co-ordinate the annual Octacan donation drive.
The PSO event supports the Family Works foodbank by collecting cans to stock its pantry.
Taieri College’s donation numbers have been rapidly increasing every year since Mr Fuss took over as the co-ordinating teacher in 2019.
In 2018, the number of cans donated was about 650.
‘‘I recall when they first started this we had a lot less cans, and they would sometimes do a little circle or something and then send the cans into town,’’ he said.
‘‘As we’ve had more and more, we’ve had the ability to do more.’’
By last year, the total collected ticked over 3000, and this year they had collected more than 3450.
Mr Fuss said the success was down to making it a big deal for the students.
‘‘We encourage them, we like to give out prizes ... and the bigger contributors are going up and up every year.’’
This year the largest number of cans brought by a student was 50.
They were not the only big contributor — multiple other students had brought in about 30 and 40.
He hoped the momentum would continue once he had flown the nest.
‘‘I think I’m leaving it in as good a spot that it can be.
‘‘If they continue how I’ve been doing it, they should be all good to hopefully surpass me.
‘‘The more we bring in the better.’’
He would really miss the school — it was his first teaching job after he finished teacher’s college at the University of Canterbury following his move to New Zealand from Canada in 2007.
‘‘I’ve been here ever since.
‘‘It’ll be an interesting next chapter.’’
Mr Fuss’ partner got a job in Singapore and has already moved over, so when an opportunity came up for him to follow her over, he accepted.
‘‘I don’t consider Canada my home right now, but I do consider New Zealand my home.
‘‘So I will be back, but we’ll put in a little bit of time overseas and just see how that is for a while — but [we] will be back again.’’
