Dunedin residents giving more than $10,000 for the Ronald McDonald House South Island have helped make its annual appeal most successful.
The June 7 street collection raised a provisional $74,606.61 for the Christchurch facility, exceeding the South Island target of $65,000.
General manager Emma Jones said the organisation was thrilled to ''once again'' witness the immense generosity of South Islanders.
''On the day of the appeal our collectors were treated to countless acts of selfless giving, such as children giving their 50-cent pocket money for that week. An anonymous Dunedin man literally emptied his wallet of change for us, explaining that he had once had a child stay at the house,'' Ms Jones said.
In Dunedin $10,404.70 has already been collected from this year's appeal.
It more than doubles the $3471.90 given by Dunedin residents in the 2012 appeal.
Money from several towns and independently organised collections has yet to be banked.
''We want to extend a big, big thank you to everyone in Dunedin who supported our appeal. For our families, knowing that their communities are willing to walk alongside them in what could be one of the most difficult times of their lives often means the world,'' Ms Jones said.
Nationally about $136,000 was raised for the three Ronald McDonald House facilities.
It was the first national appeal for the Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland houses.
Money donated to the South Island house will go towards its operational costs.
It can accommodate and support up to 26 families at a time.rosie.manins@odt.co.nz
