Rewarding, beneficial, exciting, busy, and enjoyable is how Zoe and Caleb Armit would describe a day of volunteering at Tauranga Community Foodbank.

The siblings returned to volunteer for another year, dedicating their time twice a week during the foodbank’s annual Christmas appeal.

The Bay of Plenty Times’ six-week Christmas Appeal for the Tauranga Community Foodbank launched on November 15.

Supported by The Hits Bay of Plenty 95.0FM and SunLive, it aims to replenish the foodbank’s shelves, offering Christmas treats for people who may otherwise have none and boost the foodbank into the new year.

Zoe Armit, 18, started volunteering last November and decided to come back for three weeks in the lead-up to Christmas.

The foodbank runs with more than 75 volunteers rostered each week, and this number grows to 100 in the lead-up to Christmas.

Armit said she was motivated to start volunteering at the foodbank because it helped others and gave her something to do.

“I like to be busy helping people and doing bits and bobs.”

She said jobs for volunteers varied day-to-day, but her tasks and her brother’s involved greeting donors and counting and sorting donations.

“Light things go into banana boxes, heavy things go into smaller Baxter boxes. Then once they are full, we sort them and put them in groups together on pallets.”

Zoe Armit, 18, was motivated to start volunteering at the foodbank because it helped others and gave her something to do. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell

Armit told the Bay of Plenty Times “a lot” of the other volunteers were retired, and her young age meant she was able to help them out.

“With me, who is younger, with a bit more muscle, it’s easier to lift things, or if they need bigger things moved, I’ve got easy access.”

She said volunteering at the foodbank made her feel grateful for what she had.

“Seeing the sheer scale of how many people you notice in cars coming past, like there are people who you don’t realise need it until you’re in that space.”

The Tauranga Community Foodbank has supported 23,618 people in the past year and has distributed 9520 kai packages.

On average, 770 households each month sought support with food.

Armit said her time volunteering showed her how willing people were to help.

“They’re willing to give up their time to make sure other people in need have what they want over this Christmas.”

Her younger brother, Caleb, 16, said he was “definitely” the youngest foodbank volunteer.

“Most people who volunteer here are elderly people, so it’s good to have me here being tall and strong.”

He said he got to see a variety of different people while volunteering.

“You see how people care about others who are in need.”

It was surprising to see how much food people ended up donating.

Caleb Armit, 16, said he was “definitely” the youngest foodbank volunteer and would help the older volunteers with tasks. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell

“Some people are very generous and decide to bring food in because they’re clearing out their house or sometimes moving.”

Tauranga Community Foodbank warehouse manager Jordy Gastmeier manages all the volunteers and said the foodbank could not operate without them.

She loved it when young people, like Zoe and Caleb, reached out to get involved.

“It’s just so incredible that’s what they’re thinking at that age, that they want to help and want to be a part of the solution.”

She said the Armit siblings were a joy to be around.

“It’s so helpful having their muscle, they’re so quick, they’re just so passionate and enthusiastic, and really want to do whatever needs doing, with a smile.”

She was inspired by some of the young people coming through to volunteer.

“We get so much out of having them here, and it just really warms my heart to see them come back.”

The last official donation day for the Christmas Appeal is December 24.

Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.