Fill the Bus 2024 has wrapped up with the team feeling "very happy" with the generosity shown by the Rotorua community, The Hits Rotorua presenter Paul Hickey says. 

He said there were some good public donations in the final stops of the day at supermarkets and a shopping centre. 

The bus has been unloaded for the final time today at the Salvation Army headquarters and "the counting is well under way".

Hickey said the bus had to be unloaded a couple of times earlier in the day due to the sheer weight of donations collected, which gave the Salvation Army team a headstart on the "massive" job of counting and sorting.

He said the day was "very hot and very worthwhile".

The Metservice says the temperature in Rotorua exceeded 26 degrees this afternoon.

The final donation tally will be announced on-air on The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM and on the Rotorua Daily Post website tomorrow.

If you missed out on making a donation today, it's not too late to help stock the shelves of the Salvation Army foodbank stock for the busy holiday period and heading into 2025.

Scroll down below the blog for information on how to donate to the six-week Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal, now in its fourth week. 

The bus is now making its final public stops of the day - check the afternoon schedule below if you want to catch up.

The Salvation Army team has so far counted 7953 items donated during Fill the Bus today. 

The last lot of donations are still to be counted before the final tally is announced tomorrow.

Coffee, toothpaste and toys are just a few of the items in Rotorua Lakes Council's Fill the Bus donation. 

Mayor Tania Tapsell said council staff "really understands" people are going through hard times at the moment "and so our staff really got behind this one".

Council gardener Rose Andrew said the team had come together to help others over Christmas. 

"We just put the word out to the whole nursery team, and they came through."

Detective Christie Gordon said the Rotorua Police team wanted to focus on toys for their Fill the Bus donation. 

“For the appeal we wanted to focus on the exciting stuff.

"We just put it out to the station and everyone has showed up for the Salvation Army.”

Four Square Edmund Rd, owned by Callum and Laetitia Sutherland, joined Fill the Bus for the first time this year. 

Laetitia Sutherland, who was carrying baby Doug to meet the bus, said she hoped it was the first contribution of many. 

"It’s just a good way to give back to the community that supports us.”

Aorangi School secretary Anna Steed said the school had been involved with Fill the Bus for the last few years and “even those families that don’t have a lot always find something to give”. 

Selwyn School students have performed a haka for Salvation Army mascot Shieldy. 

Shire Akarana-Cassidy, Year 5, left and Liam Lee, Year4. Shire said she loved helping other people at Christmas.

Rainbow Frances-Parekura, Year 5, and Jake Korodi, Year 6, say Fill The Bus “is a great cause”. Thanks boys!