generosity.

"I have nothing but praise for the community,'' Lucy Willitts yesterday told The Royal Gazette . "I'm touched by their generosity.'' An appeal for non-perishable food items brought in such an overwhelming response that the ship container was filled by 3 p.m. on Saturday, she said.

And Mrs. Willitts singled out the work of D&J Trucking and food wholesalers Butterfield & Vallis and Winter-Cookson, Petty Ltd., for teaming up to fill two truckloads of food for the container.

The container now heads to England and then to the Azores, where it will be distributed to anyone in need, she added.

Over the past few weeks the Azores have been battered by severe winter storms as 90-m.p.h. winds uprooted trees, damaged houses, brought floods, and threw ships into harbour walls.

Bermuda resident Helen Pimental has opened an account at Somers Mortgage and Finance to help victims. Thousands of dollars have already poured into it, it is understood.

Meanwhile food, not clothes -- remains the plea from Bermuda volunteers gearing up for their next drive, this time for relief aid to Haiti in February.

"I don't need any more clothes; I could probably clothe the world,'' said Mrs. Willitts.