Oriental market

Jennie will be selling foodstuffs, Malaysian knick-knacks and artwork in the Coppergate Centre, York, which is hosting the city's first market of its kind as part of the York Chinese New Year Festival.

All money raised will be sent to five cleaners she met while staying in Malaysia at the time of the tsunami, who lost their homes and possessions in the disaster.

Jennie said: "I told them 'If I can do anything when I get back, I will.' You can't imagine it, can you? They need everything. I wouldn't know where to start."

Pupils at Bubwith School, near Selby, brought in unwanted toys for a draw to raise cash for the disaster victims. Each toy was assigned a raffle ticket and children paid a donation to go in the draw for a new toy. A cake sale and tombola also helped to raise £522.

Last night, Helmsley residents were encouraged to take a night off from cooking and treat themselves to fish and chips, complete with a free portion of peas, to help the tsunami victims. Swift's Fisheries, in Bondgate, is donating all money taken between 4.30pm and 6.30pm to the appeal. Supplier Henry Colbeck, Newcastle, has donated the peas for free, and potato merchants Bland's of Ripon have provided the potatoes free of charge.

Raven Hall Country House Hotel, at Ravenscar, near Scarborough, has also come up with a tasty way to raise money. On Sunday, it will offer guests a complimentary bowl of soup between 11am and 3pm.

In return, people will be asked to make a contribution to the tsunami appeal and the hotel will match any money raised.

Managing director Clive Rowe-Evans said: "We have been planning an initiative to mark National Soup Day, but after the shocking news of the tsunami disaster we also wanted to do more to contribute."

Meanwhile, two anonymous benefactors have boosted a collection at The Derwent Arms, in Church Street, Norton, to £1,000.

Owner John Rushworth raised £320 by asking customers to put their loose change into buckets, and then raised the total to £700, by donating £380 of profits. Mr Rushworth said two men spotted posters up thanking customers for raising the £700 and put their hands in their pockets and gave a further £300 to the fund.

Hambleton District Council staff have donated £725 to help the communities hit by the tsunami. The money was raised through donations and a raffle.

Chief executive Peter Simpson said: "No one could help to be touched by this disaster and everyone wanted to help in some way.

"This money was donated very quickly by the staff - direct from their wages."

Ainsty Park Community Watch Group, in York, raised £332.16 for the York Aid appeal by holding garage sales, a coffee morning and paying to dump household rubbish in a skip. The total also includes a donation of £70 from Foxwood Community and Residents' Association.

Forest of Galtres Golf Club, at Wigginton, raised £1,430 by pledging to donate all the green fees taken last Sunday to the national appeal.

Updated: 10:04 Friday, January 28, 2005