THANK YOU ALL! That is the message to the people of York today, after you responded magnificently to the York Harvest appeal.

Throughout September, The Press and City of York Council collected donations for Carecent, which provides breakfasts for homeless and vulnerable people six days a week, and the public have responded generously.

Yesterday, as our month-long drive came to an end, supermarket giant Morrisons added to the donations from the public, by handing over 120 cans of Heinz baked beans and 96 litres of orange juice.

Staff at the new M-Local store in Spurriergate said they were thrilled to help a good local cause. Mounds of donations have also been collected at this newspaper’s offices in Walmgate and at the City of York Council premises in Station Rise and Hazel Court.

Gemma Hayes-Logan, store manager, said: “We are really happy to support this. All charities deserve support but it’s especially good to be able to do something that supports the local community.”

Nicky Gladstone, project leader at Carecent, said: “We are really grateful. It’s great that they are so supportive.”

She thanked everyone who had donated to the York Harvest appeal and said it woudl help towards them meeting demand over the coming year.

Carecent relies heavily on harvest festival donations from churches and schools but it has faced rising demand in recent years as the economic crisis has intensified. The Press, Carecent and the city council joined forces to launch York Harvest, to make it easier for those without links to a church or school to donate, and as the latest practical steps in our ongoing anti-poverty work. The donations will help ensure Carecent can meet demand throughout 2013/14.

Gavin Aitchison, news editor at The Press, said: “The response from the public has been fantastic, and we want to thank Morrisons also for their very generous donation.”

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, York’s director of public health said: “We’re proud to have been able to contribute to this year’s Harvest appeal and we’ve been bowled over by the generosity of residents and our staff with their donations.  Carecent work tirelessly to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our community and hopefully these donations will keep their storeroom stocked for some time to come.”

• Building work at The Press site means any remaining donations should please be delivered to Carecent at Central Methodist Church in St Saviourgate, between 6pm and 8pm on Mondays or Tuesdays, until October 15.