Spreading Christmas cheer was the aim of a group of IT professionals who teamed up with FoodShare Dunedin to bake Christmas cakes and shortbread for the city's elderly.
About 50-60 parcels containing cake, shortbread and chocolate were put together by eight Firebrand staff members and seven FoodShare volunteers at Otago Polytechnic yesterday.
Firebrand is FoodShare's principal sponsor and it was a chance for staff to"give back'' to the community, owner Rebecca Twemlow said.
"Today is about the team coming together,'' Mrs Twemlow said.
"It's a way to give back at this time of the year [and] it's been great.
"We chose FoodShare [to sponsor] as we believe they are doing great things in the community.''
The polytechnic provided the kitchen to the group at no cost and Gilbert's Fine Food owner Kevin Gilbert was on hand to provide guidance with baking.
FoodShare founder and chief executive Deborah Manning said even though her organisation did many events throughout the year, this was the first time they had run a Christmas-themed event.
"We provide the initiative for corporates to come and ... get involved,'' Ms Manning said.
"Everybody feels good about what they do.''
The packages were delivered by the group to Age Concern Otago yesterday afternoon.
FoodShare collects surplus fresh food from supermarkets, cafes and restaurants and delivers it to organisations and people in need.
The organisation is on target to make its one-millionth delivery in March next year.
