LAUTOKA market vendors who spent last week raising money and relief items for Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston victims have managed to raise over $1400 and collect gift items for distribution.

About 100 vendors raised the money over a period of four days.

Lautoka Municipal Market master Gordon Wong said after the devastation caused by the Category 5 cyclone, the vendors were keen to offer any help that they could.

“They came up with the idea to donate any amount of money that they were willing to offer and we agreed to facilitate their request,” he said.

“We did this for a period of four days and we managed to collect about $1400.

“With that money we were able to purchase a few household items for 20 families.

“We have basic kitchen utensils like pots, plates and spoons along with food items like rice, flour, sugar and mosquito coils.

“We also have bags of clothes and shoes that were also given in kind by the vendors.”

He said the council was happy to partner with the vendors for a worthy cause.