Leeds homeless shelter St George's Crypt in urgent need of cutlery and crockery

St George's Crypt, which runs a homeless shelter and care centre, serves nearly 750 three-course meals every week to those in need.

But its volunteers are struggling to clean the available dishes in time for the next wave of visitors.

Appealing for donations, the charity said: "We desperately need crockery and cutlery for our lunchtime service. We are serving close to 150 three-course meals at lunch five days a week and even if bits didn't get broken (and they always do...!) we don't have enough to go round.

"Our dish washers and volunteers are working tirelessly to get one seating clean for the next service but we don't want to ask our guys to leave so we can keep rotating and cleaning; it's really important for the community, self-esteem, reducing isolation and building a positive social setting that people can chat, have a cup of tea and feel like they belong and that's something we don't want to end!"

Anyone who is able to help with donations is asked to call 0113 245 9061 or drop in donations to the care centre in Great George Street on weekdays, 9am-5pm.