Donations have been pouring in to the Kent Messengers’ You Can Help campaign.

For the past five weeks, schools, businesses and the public have been donating food, warm clothing and other essential items to Maidstone Day Centre.

Last week, children from Five Acre Wood School donated 25 colourfully wrapped shoeboxes filled with winter goodies to the centre in Knightrider Street, run by Maidstone Homeless Care.

As well as a few festive treats, presents included hats, gloves and scarves to help keep the homeless warm this winter.

Rozana Rana, the teaching assistant who organised the donation, said: “I am so delighted our children got behind this amazing homeless centre, and we wish everybody a very happy Christmas.”

Elsewhere seven-year-old Harry Jordan, of Tonbridge Road, made another bumper collection of food, toiletries and clothing.

The Barming Primary School pupil told his family to forgo presents last year and help him create a reverse advent calendar with donations for the homeless.This year he also went to businesses for help.

Meanwhile staff at Tudor Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club filled 20 rucksacks donated by Mountain Warehouse with sleeping bags, torches, thermal underwear, flasks, socks, lip salve and raincoats for the centre.

And there are signs the Christmas dinner for those spending the big day at Maidstone Day Centre won’t disappoint this year, thanks to Kent Turkeys.

The franchise, based at Woolpack Corner Farm in Benenden Road, Biddenden, donated four feathered fowl. Tony Fleck, director, said: “People should never be homeless in a country like ours in this day and age and so if there is any person I would like to help it is those people.”

Our You Can Help appeal is run with Homeless Care.

Items needed include tins of non-perishable goods, ready meals and toiletries. Cheese, bacon, sausages, eggs and butter or spreads are also welcome.

The centre needs torches, nail clippers, disposable razors, waterproofs, T-shirts, gloves and woolly hats.

Collection points are:

• Morrisons, Sutton Road, Maidstone
• Sainsbury’s, Romney Place, Maidstone
• Sainsbury’s, 411 Loose Road, Maidstone
• The Mall shopping centre, Pads Hill, Maidstone
• Iceland supermarket, The Mall, Pads Hill
• St Simon Stock school, Oakwood Park, Maidstone
• Invicta Grammar School, Huntsman Lane, Maidstone
• Maplesden Noakes School, Buckland Road, Maidstone
• Maidstone Grammar School, Barton Road, Maidstone
• Maidstone Girls’ Grammar School, Buckland Road, Maidstone
• Kingswood Primary School, Cayser Drive, Kingswood, Maidstone
• St Luke’s Church, St Lukes Road, Maidstone
• Maidstone Community Support Centre, 39-48 Marsham Street, Maidstone
• Oakwood Park Grammar School, Maidstone
• St Peter’s Church, Church Hill, Boughton Monchelsea
• Greensand Health Centre, 3 Stockett Lane, Coxheath
• Morrisons, New Hythe Lane, Larkfield
• Yalding Primary School, Vicarage Road
• The Village Stores, Pond Road, East Peckham
• East Peckham News, Orchard Road, East Peckham

To help, call 01622 674064.