Donors turn out for annual charity Tinathon

Organisers of an annual event in its 18th year accepting donations of tinned food are hoping to match or break previous records.

The Jersey Tinathon for Shelter Trust Jersey takes place on Friday - last year more than 13,000 tins were donated to the campaign.

One donor helping support it, Judith Bennett, said: "I've been there, so I know how they feel when you haven't got enough money to buy food."

She brought more than 800 tins of food from Helvetia School to donate to the event which helps provide food for people who are given accommodation by the charity.

Bennett has been supporting the appeal for years through her volunteering at Helvetia School.

She said: "This is the most we've ever had... it's very important to some people, families and children who don't have much.

"I'm glad I've got here because as I was driving, I thought the tins might all fall out or something, but it was fine."

The event is held in West's Centre in St Helier between 08:00 and 14:30 BST.

Deputy Monty Tadier regularly performs music at the Tinathon and this year he played the accordion along with fellow musicians.

Tadier said: "It's a really important charity... I think it's a really simple idea but it's really captured the public imagination."

He added: "We enjoy being part of the community and entertaining people working here stacking tins but I think it helps attract people to the area as well.

"It also highlights the fact that there is a need in Jersey for this support work."

Richard Robbins helps organise the donation drive for the homelessness charity.

He said: "The tins of food that we collect today will go to supplement the food that Shelter serves.

"We serve 90,000 meals a year... so this food will help us through the winter when we've got a lot of people to feed," Robbins added.

"We're just so grateful for the whole community who really come behind the event every year because last year we received 13,000 tins and we're heading that way this year as well."

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