A STREET cafe which feeds rough sleepers in the city is pleading for donations to help buy a new van.

Sharon Multani, who runs Worcester Street Cafe, said she had covered thousands of miles in her car as part of the work she does for the group.

She now wants to raise £4,000 to buy a van so volunteers no longer have to use their own vehicles to transport food and other items.

Ms Multani said: “This week we had three of our main volunteers’ cars off the road. My car is in for repair.

“Last night our volunteers collected leftovers from Pret A Manger, another had to collect stuff from Greggs and Pizza Milano.

“A friend of mine started a Just Giving fund so we can get a designated van that’s always available for us.

“We are running our cars down at the moment. I’ve been doing this for 19 months. We also have to keep unpacking our cars when we go home.

“We can’t get out and about or give lifts to anyone because our cars are so full with other stuff.”

She added that the boot and seats of her Kia car are always covered with Worcester Street Cafe items, such as food, bottles, flasks and a table.

Ms Multani estimated that she drives at least 70 miles per week on behalf of the group and said other volunteers are covering similar distances.

She said three of her 20 volunteers also need to be picked up, placing extra pressure on those who use their own cars.

The group has already raised £150 through its online crowdfunding page for the van.

Worcester Street Cafe is open outside the old fire station, in Copenhagen Street, between 7.30pm and 8.30pm from Monday to Thursday.

Ms Multani said the project currently feeds 40 people a night and added that she was particularly grateful to Pizza Milano for its donations.

To help buy the new van for the group you can donate on justgiving.com/crowdfunding/worcesterstreetcafevanappeal

To find out more about the project visit www.facebook.com/Worcester-Street-Cafe-1691879544451174/