Shoppers become Canty meal mates

Taranaki shoppers have joined the nationwide outpouring of support for the victims of last week's Canterbury earthquake.

At Pak 'n Save New Plymouth yesterday, three bright yellow trolleys were laden with donated groceries including cereal, tinned fruit, and biscuits. Checkout manager Nicola Murdock said each trolley held at least $200 of food and necessities like toilet paper.

"People aren't just putting cans in, some of it is big stuff," she said. "That's a $9 box of Nutri-Grain."

The trolleys were put out on Monday and would stay as long as people wanted to donate.

How the groceries would get to Canterbury was yet to be decided but they could be couriered if necessary.

Store owner Alan Melody said the collection was a Foodstuffs initiative and the groceries were being collected on behalf of the Red Cross.

"Most supermarkets outside Christchurch are pitching in," he said.

It's not the first time Mr Melody's customers have reacted generously to a crisis in their backyard.

"We had a fantastic response to the Samoan tsunami appeal," Ms Murdock said.

"There were people outside during that appeal and they were the face of it but people seem to be giving just as much this time," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News