Gazette Community Fund

We have been asking organisations to write in and tell us why they need fundraising support. We are featuring one group each week in the Gazette, and this week it's the turn of the Open Door.

The Open Door ■ To apply, e-mail communityfund@countygazette.co.uk or write to Community Fund, Somerset County Gazette, St James' Street, Taunton TA1 1JR. Include 150 words about the cause and its fund-raising need/s,with details of how readers can make donations.

■ The Albemarle Centre ■ The New Build Appeal, St Margaret's Hospice ■ ESCAPE Support Group providing activities for disabled children and their families ■ Mindline Somerset ■ SAB - Somerset Association for the Blind ■ Taunton Well Woman Centre ■ Home-Start Taunton Deane ■ Somerset Wildlife Trust ■ 1st Wellington Scout Group ■ East Somerset Railway ■ Kingsmead School Society ■ Chedzoy Pre-School ■ HELP - Holiday Endeavour for Lone Parents ■ St John Ambulance Taunton Combined Adult Division ■ Somerset Cancer Care ■ Victim Support Somerset ■ The Open Door - Taunton's homeless charity ■ North Town Primary School (new sensory room planned for special needs children) ■ Norton Fitzwarren Village Hall Chair Appeal ■ Norton Fitzwarren Pre-School ■ Moon Bear Rescue (Quantocks based) ■ Somerset Prostate Cancer Support Association ■ Reminiscence Learning ■ Conquest Centre ■ Taunton Sea Cadets ■ Pawlett Village Playgroup ■ Taunton Vale Disability Club ■ Wellington St John Ambulance ■ Selworthy School ■ BIBIC, Pawlett ■ Carer Support Programme (CSP) helping parents who bring up/care for disabled children in the county ■ Labrador Rescue Trust in Somerset ■ Hemyock Pre-School ■ Huish Woods Scout Camp Site - also the centenary year of Scouting ■ Buckland St Mary Pre-School ■ Taunton Beekeepers ■ Holy Cross Church, Hillfarrance ■ Taunton & District Mencap ■ Taunton Women's Refuge ■ Staplegrove Scout Group ■ SASBAH Somerset Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus ■ Taunton Deane Association for Neighbourhood Care ■ Taunton Opportunity Playgroup ■ Ruishton Ladies - knitting ■ Helen's Rabbit and Guinea Pig Boarding and Rescue ■ Taunton Citizens' Advice Bureau ■ Macmillan Cancer Support THE Open Door provides essential services for homeless and vulnerable people in Taunton.

It caters for all ages for rough sleepers, travellers, people in insecure accommodation and those who have just slipped through the net. How does The Open Door help? Callers at its Wood Street premises can shower, use the laundry facilities for £1, make a drink/snack, fill up their flask, pick up post, and replace wornout clothing, footwear or bedding from the second-hand store. It can also help those being re-housed and it hosts a monthly Sunday lunch.

How can you help? By donating items for its clothing and domestic equipment store, or money - it urgently needs to replace its laundry equipment.

Phone 01823-271996 or call at 44a Wood Street 10am-3 pm, Monday to Friday, or send a cheque made out to The Open Door, Taunton, to 44a Wood Street, Taunton TA1 1UW.