A NORTH Norfolk-based charity is urging people save their spare change for the month of February to help one of the world's most impoverished communities.

A NORTH Norfolk-based charity is urging people save their spare change for the month of February to help one of the world's most impoverished communities.

Aid Africa has placed collection boxes around Fakenham and Holt for its Small Change Challenge to raise funds for Malawi, where a combination of floods and droughts ruined last year's harvest.

The charity's shop in Holt covers the project's overhead costs, meaning every penny donated will be used to ease the suffering in an area ravaged by famine and disease.

Shop manager Lynda Mills and her husband David will fly out to the country in April for three months to continue work they started on their first visit in 2005.

Since then, the charity has overseen the planting of community gardens, repaired water bore holes, developed goat herds and provided agricultural and livestock training.

“It is going to be a very challenging trip,” she said. “We know that people are so hungry they're diving into the Shire River, among equally hungry crocodiles, to find water lily bulbs to eat.

“2008's desperately poor harvest has left little food in the homes of the vulnerable and needy.

“It is difficult getting people to give money these days, but I am encouraging people to put their small change aside, just for the month of February. Our small change will make big changes in Malawi.”

Donations in Fakenham can be made at Aldiss, The Bull pub, Fakenham Garden Centre, the Bakehouse, Martin's newsagent, Fakenham Baptist Church, Fresh-2-U and Tesco.

In Holt, the collection boxes are at Budgens, HSBC bank, Starlings, Bakers and Larners, and the Aid Africa Charity Shop on Shirehall Plain.

They can also be found at Graves in Briston and the post office and Fox and Hounds pub in Weasenham St Peter.

For more information contact Lynda Mills on 01263 713641.