Wow! A week of cheques and cash donations has pushed the Your Local Paper Winter Appeal well on the way to the £3,000 mark.

King’s Lynn Night Shelter and The Purfleet Trust are still getting the lion’s share of the donations but there is a steady trickle coming in for the town’s food bank.

Donations have been handed to the charities on behalf of YLP readers and the representatives are absolutely amazed and very grateful for whatever comes their way.

“Each week when I knock on their doors with the fresh donations the people receiving the donations are overwhelmed with the generosity shown by our readers,” said YLP editor Sue Irving.

“Some weeks I have a lot to hand over and other times it may not be as much but whatever the amount, the charities really appreciate the community support.

“I can’t stress enough that it doesn’t have to be a big amount – anything and everything is appreciated and all adds up so if you can support the appeal please drop your donations through our office letterbox.”

The Your Local Paper Winter Appeal is helping to make a big difference especially with the added pressures of the festive season coupled with the cold and wet weather.

The appeal runs until the end of January and aims to help these charities continue their vital support for those in need – not just at Christmas but all year round.

We are asking for cash/cheque donations (not food) of any amount which we will forward to the charities to spend where it’s needed the most.

Donations for the food bank, Purfleet Trust and night shelter can be dropped through the door/letterbox of the YLP office at 17 Tuesday Market Place in Lynn (which is also the home of the Lynn News).

There may not always be someone in reception to take your donation, so please put your cheque/cash into an envelope and write the name(s) of the charity you wish the donation to go to so we can forward it on your behalf and drop them into our letterbox.

We have a buzzer on the front door, so if you have a cash donation and want to hand it to a YLP staff member in person, just ring the bell and we will come to the door.

Donations can also be taken directly to the charities if you prefer – the night shelter is based at St John’s House near The Walks, the food bank is in the TS Vancouver building off South Quay and the Purfleet Trust is at Pathway House, Austin Fields.

YLP readers in Downham Market can support the town’s food bank at Eternity Church by taking donations directly to the premises at the Sovereign Centre, Sovereign Way at the Trafalgar Industrial Estate.

Those heading up the charities have told us how much your donations do help them through the winter.

The Purfleet Trust has said £5 can provide a vulnerable person with warm socks and gloves, £10 helps towards essentials such as hot meals, clean clothing or toiletries, £20 covers health and wellbeing services such as practical fitness sessions or mental health advice from the support team, £40 will fund a week of skills training, cooking classes or an employability course to help build confidence and independence.

A donation of £50 funds a place for someone on a four-week tenancy training course to help with their independent living skills, and £100 equips someone moving into a new home with essentials like bedding, cookware and furniture – ensuring they can settle and thrive.

If you can help and are making a donation via cheque, please make it payable to: King’s Lynn Night Shelter, The Purfleet Trust or King’s Lynn Food Bank.