Otago Community Hospice staff dispensed bowls of strawberries and icecream drizzled with strawberry syrup as a fundraising venture in the Golden Centre this week.
"We've got 600 punnets of strawberries and a whole freezer full of icecream," Otago Community Hospice funding and marketing co-ordinator Lyn Chapman said.
"We had a great start to the day when 16 staff from the ANZ Bank came down for morning tea.
"All the funds raised go towards our ongoing operating costs, which are the biggest demand we have at the hospice.
"We have about 150 people on the hospice programme at any one time, but there are always people coming and going," she said.
The initiative raised $4000 for the hospice last year.
"Our hospice provides the highest standard of care for terminally-ill New Zealanders free of charge and funds raised from the strawberry festival helps towards keeping those services free."
The hospice is also selling strawberry angels, used for Christmas decorations.
