The Head Shave for the Food Rave was the initiative of East Otago Health clinic practice manager Jane Roberts, who, along with practice nurse Andrea Buxton and nurse practitioner Michelle Lawrence, shaved their hair off this month to raise money for the foodbank.
The trio, along with supporters and the broader community, raised $2501 for the cause.
POWA community engagement manager Sonya Billyard said they were "selfless women" and she was thrilled about the donation.
"I take my hat off to them. I’d love to say they look amazing with their head shaved. It was fantastic and to do it for our cause was perfect for our area and an injection we needed for the foodbank, " she said.
The trio from the health centre, at her suggestion to "make it public", braved the morning chill in Main St with a crowd of more than 50 supporters, including staff from the centre, Mrs Billyard said.
"It was such a big act of kindness and it needed to be visual and people needed to be aware of what they’re doing," she said.
"It’s more awareness for people to know that we do have a foodbank in East Otago. That’s what we’re here for. It was a win-win for everyone."
The recent donation from the medical centre not only helped financially but had added benefits.
"That will get us through the year and we won’t have to stress like we normally do.
"So this now means, because we are specifically low on cereals and breads and staple items, we can now go out and buy them, " Mrs Billyard said.
She had been with POWA for 17 years and the demand for the foodbank was at its highest.
Despite regular community donations of canned goods and other supporters for the "small" organisation, Covid-19 and servicing a broader section of the community led to higher demand, she said.
"We really do struggle and we do have a high demand on our foodbank for our East Otago area. [We now] go as far as Evansdale through to Palmerston.
"Covid has affected so many families that the demand is higher than we’ve ever seen before."
