ALMOST £100,000 of emergency aid has been sent to the typhoon-hit Philippines after a massive response to a Beverley charity's appeal.
Jacob's Well is now appealing for further donations of food, clothing, building and medical supplies for another cargo, after its Beverley warehouse was emptied of stock.
Reverend John Beynon, who is leading the charity's Philippines appeal, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the public's response.
"We organised collections at Tesco's in Beverley and people gave us more than 20 trolleys overflowing with rice, pasta and children's clothes.
"We estimate in that one day, we were given over £2,000 of rice, pasta and children's clothing, along with £800 cash, in the one store.
"We also collected £650 cash and about £1,000 of rice and pasta at Aldi's new store in Beverley, plus £475 cash and £200 of rice and pasta at Marks and Spencer."
Schools, including Longcroft at Beverley, also rallied round.
Rev Beynon said: "We have been able to add this to our own food supplies, which we collect throughout the year from individuals, schools, churches and voluntary groups.
"This helped make up a really large amount of emergency food supplies to send to the people who have lost everything over there.
"The local Filipino Society got involved with us and have sent people along to stand in the supermarkets and talk with people about the situation on the ground."
Yesterday, 20 staff at the David Lloyd Leisure Club in Kingswood backed the appeal by undertaking a sponsored rowing challenge, with Jacob's Well helper Sylvia Hood.
The charity's £96,000 aid cargo is heading to Hernani, one of the worst-hit areas, where a close friend of Rev Beynon is leading the relief operation after hardly any buildings were left standing.
Another container will follow in the coming weeks, filled with precious building material.
Rev Beynon said: "After the initial chaos dies down, the most urgent task will be to rebuild the homes of those who have lost everything.
"Local building firms have already responded generously.
"Barrass, one of Hull's leading manufacturers of sheet metal roofing, instantly donated metal sheets and plywood boards worth several thousands of pounds, while MKM, the Hull builders' merchant chain, donated 15kg of galvanised roofing nails."
Clothing, food and money can be donated at the Jacob's Well shop in Ladygate, Beverley, at the charity's office next to the new Aldi supermarket in Swinemoor Lane, Beverley, or by visiting www.jacobswellappeal.org.
