A BREAKFAST centre in York for all homeless, unemployed or otherwise socially excluded members of the community is in desperate need of donations of food and other items.

Carecent York, at the Central Methodist Church, in St Saviourgate, says its stocks are the lowest they have ever been.

Now it is asking people to help replenish its stocks by donating any of the following items: tinned tomatoes, tinned meat which can be served cold, tinned hot dog sausages, tinned spaghetti, baked beans, breakfast cereal, porridge oats, canned fish, brown sauce, tomato ketchup, tea, instant coffee, sugar, marmite, peanut butter, tinned fruit and fruit juice.

Nicky Gladstone, the organisation’s project leader, said: “It is nearly harvest time but our stocks have never been so low.

“Anything people can offer as soon as possible would be great.”

If you can donate any of the above items, phone the charity on 01904 624244, or drop them off at the Central Methodist Church during opening hours. The organisation can collect items if necessary.

Carecent, which was launched in 1984, provides food, clothing, toiletries and fellowship, free of charge.

It says its volunteers are ready to listen and offer support and advice where possible.

It works in conjunction with other agencies who can offer professional advice on housing problems, substance dependency issues and other types of help and support.

The organisation depends entirely on donations of food, mostly from local churches and also from schools at harvest time, and donations of clothing, toiletries, money and time.

It opens six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, 8.30am to 10.45am.

Carecent currently has 70 volunteers, and Nicky is the only paid part-time member of staff. It provides about 300 breakfasts each week.

The organisation is giving people the chance to drop off items at Shipton Methodist Church on Monday and Tuesday evenings, from 6pm to 8pm, between September 18 and October 24.

As well as providing food, clothes and toiletries to those who need them most, it also organises occasional trips for customers.