That's a can-do attitude

Maori Hill School pupils Delilah Brown (10, left) and Florence Devereux-Kilpatrick (10) add their cans to the collection in the Octagon yesterday.

Presbyterian Support Otago hoped its OctaCan drive would net 19,000 cans to see its Family Works foodbank through the next six months, communications and marketing manager Warren Rosser said.

The can drive, in which people could bring cans and non-perishable food to the Octagon, was in its 11th year. The commitment from the community was heart-warming to see, Mr Rosser said.

Cans of spaghetti and baked beans were the most-donated items.

Interim Presbyterian Support chief executive Gillian Bremner said she had seen the need for foodbanks growing over the past 20 years.

The event had almost become a tradition for some people.

"It's amazing how it's actually just grown over the years and become a feature of winter solstice," she said. 

 - FISI-BELLE CARRASCO-REX