Harvest for the Hungry is on course to collect so much aid for Eastern Europe that it must now raise nearly £18,000 cash to deliver its cargo.
Parcels containing food items such as rice and pasta, have been donated by more than 8,000 churchgoers schoolchildren, individuals and businesses.
It had been planned to send two lorries - costing about £12,000 - but the response has been overwhelming say the three churchmen, Baptist Roger Stark and Anglicans Tim Ball and Barry Hobson of Roxwell, who run the appeal.
They believe will now have enough to fill three lorries.
If every person who fills a box to send to Serbia also donated £3 then a Harvest convoy of three lorries will be able to roll.
Each truck costs £6,000 for the journey and each year is financed from a standing start.
Rev Stark, who helped start Harvest for the Hungry three years ago, says the scheme has fired the imagination of schools right across Essex this year.
"With just a few days of this year's campaign left we are heading for a record breaking total," he said.
Ninety-five Essex schools are now participating along with 26 churches. So far a total of 7,200 boxes have been distributed.
"Support throughout commerce and the business world has been excellent with Chelmsford Star Co-op repeating their money-off vouchers as well as their Community Card donations.
"Box collection and return points in the Meadows and for the first time in the Atrium of County Hall have enabled us to reach out to a much larger number of people.
"With such as marvellous response this year we are hoping to send three lorries filled with boxes to Eastern Europe and we ask for financial support to cover these transport costs," said Rev Stark.
He asks box donors to seal them with parcel tape on each joining edge ensuring each box has a flat top surface to make onward transportation easier.
A Thanksgiving Service is being held at the Meadows on Sunday at 6.30pm. A CD of school children singing the Harvest for the Hungry song 'Arms Around The World' will be available at the service priced at £3.
Published Friday October 11, 2002
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