AN appeal has been launched to raise funds to buy a community van for the runaway successful Dartmouth furniture bank.
Since it was set up towards the end of last year, the Community Chest has been working flat out to keep up with requests for help.
Now the group wants to secure its own transport.
Organiser Dawn Shepherd said: ‘We’ve been so busy since the very start and receive requests on a daily basis from residents and agencies.
‘As summer comes and our volunteers have more work, we know we’ll be short of cars and vans to collect and deliver items.
‘We want to raise enough money to buy and insure a community van so we can carry on with our work.
‘Initially we hope to raise £1,000 to get the appeal off the ground, enough to buy a second hand van. But then we have to tax and insure it and there will be on-going costs of keeping it on the road.’
Already £500 has been donated by district councillor Jonathan Hawkins from his South Hams Council’s fund to support good causes in the community.
Dawn said Community Chest had been successful in saving numerous items of furniture, white goods and household items from landfill or being distributed out of the town.
She said having its own transport would give the group greater independence and flexibility as well as the opportunity to secure more items for needy and low income families and individuals in and around Dartmouth.
‘For those in need the only option in some cases is high interest debt,’ she said.
‘We’re trying to run pay day loans and high interest doorstep lenders out of town.’
She added: ‘If an appliance breaks down and people have no spare money debt is usually their only option and it can soon become a spiral into poverty.
‘We have replaced items ruined by some of the damp properties people have no choice but to live in and also helped when they have to leave temporary accommodation or furnished accommodation to start a new home.
‘We’re looking for people to join us who can help fundraise.’
Donations can be made at the Yorkshire Building Society on South Embankment, at the town council offices at the Guildhall in Victoria Road.
To find out more, email [email protected] or call 07496 349234.