SIDMOUTH’S Holmesley Nursing Home has donated nearly �500 to Shelterbox.

The home in Fortescue Road raised �495 for the disaster relief charity through a coffee morning and garden party. This is enough to buy a shelterbox, to be sent to a family in a disaster-stricken country.

Residents and staff were prompted to act by the Haiti earthquake appeal earlier this year.

At the cheque presentation, the home’s part-time gardener Alan Cooper, a Rotarian, gave residents and staff a talk about Shelterbox and demonsrated a shelterbox tent.

Activities manager Sue Hart said they would be tracing the box their money had bought, to find out where it ended up.

The garden party had gone well, she added.

“We had a wonderful response,” she said. “We had Tony Marino singing all afternoon, Honiton Majorettes, and stalls including bric-a-brac, jewellery and cakes. Thanks to everyone who supported it.”

The home is now gearing up to support the Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal.