Surplus food redistribution charity Gift now has a presence on Merseyside. King David High School and Roseman's kosher deli will be collection centres for the venture.

On Tuesday, Liverpool King David's 600 pupils were invited to volunteer. They are being asked to bring in dry food items and join a team of 30 to help distribute food through Merseyside Jewish Community Care and the Whitechapel Centre for homeless people.

Gift's Shimon Gillis said the response had been hugely encouraging. "Twenty-five pupils immediately signed up as volunteers. Because the school has a mixture of Jewish and non-Jewish pupils, we are moving to help the wider community. We are also hoping to launch toy collections for orphans through KD's primary school."

Colm Sullivan from the homeless centre said Gift's contribution was coming at an important time as demand for its breakfast and lunch services had grown to 50 people a day. "It will make our other resources go much further."