It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas, as County Lions of Ashburton prepare to hold their annual Toot for Tucker on Monday night.
For 25 years volunteers have driven the streets of Ashburton, Fairton, Hinds and Lake Hood tooting their horns as they collect donations of non-perishable items, pet food and personal care items for St Vincent De Paul, Presbyterian Support and the Salvation Army food banks.
As cars slowly make their way down streets, runners collect the bags of donations residents have left at their gateways.
Items do not need to be in the official bag which have already been delivered.
The official vehicles and collectors of the drive are easily recognisable as the cars carry signs identifying them as part of the project, and all volunteers wear ID tags.
If you miss having your items picked up, or prefer to drop them off somewhere they can be taken to the Property Brokers office at 217 West St, Ashburton.
Lions organiser Julie McKimmie said the bags are recycled after Toot for Tucker, being used by charities in Ashburton.
Some members of the Lions have been part of each of the 25 collections held over the years.
In the very early days, Property Brokers Ashburton came on board to partner with Lions to support and sponsor the collection, something the firm is still proudly doing today.
Karen McRae from Property Brokers said other branches of the company around New Zealand were now supporting their local collections, following in Ashburton’s footsteps.
‘‘Toot for Tucker is a lovely thing to be involved with. It’s good to be out helping and supporting our community,’’ McRae said.
The first toot was low key, with only a few cars out. It has grown over the years, and this year there will be 58 teams out driving the streets.
Last year 495 boxes of food were collected. McKimmie said they were hoping for a similar amount this year.
Presbyterian Support area manager Suz Hutchinson said the items collected meant they could assist more people.
‘‘Times are tough for so many people, so the food parcels we give out can mean families can use the money saved from buying food to pay a power account, rent or school fees, taking the pressure off people,’’ Hutchinson said.
St Vincent de Paul’s Trevor Wall said the donations the charity received from Toot for Tucker made a huge difference.
– County Lions of Ashburton supported by Property Brokers Ashburton Toot for Tucker November 17, please have your donations at the gate at 6pm for collecting for three Ashburton foodbanks. Collection on wet or fine. Volunteers to drive and be runners are asked to meet at 5.30pm at the home industry shed at the Ashburton A & P Showgrounds, Seafield Rd, for a briefing.
