The organiser of an appeal to give a little love to the homeless at Christmas has thanked readers for their overwhelming response.

Jaymie Dunster, of Downs Road, Deal, collected almost 70 shoeboxes full of goods and bags of dog treats – the vast majority donated by Mercury readers – to give to clients and their dogs at the Catching Lives homeless shelter in Canterbury.

Miss Dunster, who called the appeal the “Give a little love campaign”, visited the centre several times to deliver the boxes, making her last trip on Christmas Eve.

She said: “I was absolutely overwhelmed by the response. I lost count of how many boxes I received in the end.

“When we turned up the workers couldn’t believe how much stuff there was.

“There weren’t any homeless people there when I went so I asked somebody to send me a photo. I think it says it all.”

The mum-of-one has since received a letter of thanks from Catching Lives secretary to the board of trustees Tricia Bridgeford.

Miss Dunster said: “Thank you to all the readers that responded. I’d love to do it again next year.”

Goods handed in after Christmas Eve have been donated to Deal Foodbank.

Miss Dunster is going to continue fundraising for the homeless and will be organising an appeal for unwanted clothing in the coming months.