On 27 November 2025, the Gore River Valley Lions ran their annual Toot for Tucker food drive, with strong promotion beforehand through letterbox flyers across Gore, local radio, newspapers, supermarkets, social media, and posters around town. Volunteers gathered at the Gore Salvation Army for a safety briefing before heading out in themed, decorated vehicles to collect food across assigned routes, supported by Lions members, St John staff and cadets, Scouts, students, police, and local community members. The appeal collected over 8,000 food items on the night, with 97 people involved in Gore alone, contributing a total of 202 volunteer hours. Collections from Mataura, Wyndham, and Edendale were also added, along with contributions from other local and rural groups.

Food was sorted the following day by Lions and Salvation Army helpers before being stored for distribution, helping ensure ongoing support for families in need as demand continues to rise. The event was considered more successful than last year, with added visibility from Toot for Tucker signage supported by the Hokonui Hauora Fund. As the Lions’ major project for the year, the drive continues to grow in both scale and community involvement, particularly among young volunteers, and remains a key way the Salvation Army can meet local needs across the wider district.