Cottage industry
Volunteer Vince Jones scoops cottage pie filling from a huge pot yesterday to create hundreds of meals for the St Vincent de Paul foodbank.
A small group of helping hands hoped to make 250 frozen dinners that could be given to hungry families and individuals in the city.
‘‘And cottage pie is a good meal because it has veges, protein and potatoes.’’
The volunteers worked away at Catholic Social Services in South Dunedin for about seven hours.
Mr Jones said it was something they did every three or four months. The meals were especially welcome in the leadup to Christmas.
Brylee McCullum (4), of Dunedin, provides some family offerings during the latest annual Community Can and Christmas Treats Drive, in Mills St, St Kilda, last night, and volunteer Greg Wilson loads nonperishable foodstuffs into a fourwheeldrive collection vehicle.
Appeal coordinator Nick Orbell said emergency service vehicles had sounded their sirens throughout the city after the drive started at 6pm.
For the past 18 years, Dunedin residents have given generously to the annual Christmas can appeal.
Mr Orbell said last year’s appeal had gathered food and treats valued about $100,000, and it was hoped to match or better that achievement.
Last night’s appeal covered the city and outlying areas such as Port Chalmers, Ravensbourne and Portobello, and included Waikouaiti for the first time.
Most of the food collected will be split between the foodbanks at Presbyterian Support Otago, St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.