Octacan food drive ‘fantastic success’

Dunedin children had a "blast" in a bid to set a new record in the  Octacan food drive.

Family Works social work supervisor Deb Gelling said the drive was a "fantastic success".

George Street Normal School pupils (from left ) Tram Dang, Gabriella Lee and Amelia Mathews-Hand ...
George Street Normal School pupils (from left ) Tram Dang, Gabriella Lee and Amelia Mathews-Hand (all 10) stack cans at Octacan in Dunedin yesterday. Photo: Gerard O'Brien.
More than 14,000 cans and food items were given yesterday but more donations were expected in the next few days.

"Thanks to the generosity of the community we will have enough cans to add to food parcels right through until the end of the year."

The final tally would be announced next week, she said.

She hoped a record would be set by collecting 18,500 cans this year.

The standing record was the 16,000 cans collected last year.

The first cans were placed in the lower Octagon at 7.30am yesterday  by Mornington School pupil Samuel Rosser, St Clair Primary School pupil Maddy Winslade, St Brigid’s School pupil Aya Oseki and Otago Boys’ High School pupil Noah Oseki.

School groups, community organisations, businesses, families and members of the pubic strategically placed thousands of cans to form eight heart shapes.

The children giving cans included three 10-year-old pupils from George Street Normal School.

Nathan Mutch said he gave cans because many people "worked hard" but could not afford to "buy enough food to sustain a family".

The drive had been "a blast".

Caitlyn Smith gave 22 cans yesterday, the most of any pupil at her school.

"I just wanted to help out."

Arrochar Voice said she got involved yesterday to "make the world a better place by helping people".

 

Octacan

The  Octacan collection for Family Works food bank yesterday.

The ninth Octacan run by Presbyterian Support Otago.

• More than 14,000 cans and food items given.

• More than $1850 given at collection points across Dunedin.

• The food bank distributes 10,000 items in emergency food parcels each month.

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement