And that total doesn't include the many others who may have donated cash through local banks and building societies and online.

Linda Whitesmith, manageress at Oxfam in Kirkcaldy, said staff have been astounded by the response to the appeal which Oxfam launched last Wednesday.

"By the weekend we had taken more than £700 over the counter, then on Monday another couple of hundred came in and people are still coming in steadily to donate. I would say it is almost on a par with the Asian Tsunami appeal.

"This appeal has certainly touched people's hearts and seeing the television and newspaper coverage every day of the suffering and the children and families who have been left homeless is horrendous and people are responding to that.

"Our appeals normally run for two weeks then there is an assessment made whether more help is still needed, but I would think this appeal could run for longer."

Meanwhile CVS Fife, the umbrella organisation for voluntary groups in the region, is urging its members to do their bit for the disaster fund, by asking them to make even a small donation.

Brian Poole, manager of CVS Fife, sent out an e-mail to all its 700 member organisations which stated: "On average each of these organisations will have around a minimum of ten personnel - giving a potential of 7000 individuals.

"If every organisation donated £50 and every individual donated £1, between us over £42,000 would go towards alleviating the suffering Haitians are currently experiencing - a significant contribution. Please consider this and remember no donation is too small."

Mr Poole added that CVS Fife is making a £100 donation.

Churches rally to the cause with money and supplies

CHURCHES in and around Kirkcaldy have been raising money to send to aid agencies working in Haiti.

Congregations have responded generously to national calls to help the Carribean island struck by an earthquake last week.

Burntisland Parish Church collected £230 after the plight of those affected by the disaster was highlighted at services.

The money will be sent to Christian Aid, one of the many organisations operating on the island.

Abbotshall Parish Church also collected £200, with a retiring offering, and encouraged members to donate via Christian Aid's website.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sent money to its headquarters. The church continually gathers donations of food, clothes, medical supplies and relief items which are pre-positioned in key locations for shipping at short notice.

Emergency supplies were sent by truck from the church's humanitarian aid facility in Dominican Republic including personal hygiene kits and supplies for newborns.

In addition two planes have been sent with 36 tons of food and emergency resources such as tents, tarpaulins, water filtration bottles and medical supplies.

Kinghorn Parish Church is planning a collection on Sunday, alongside the Salvation Army church in Kirkcaldy, which will collect donations at Sunday's service.

The Salvation Army hosted a presentation on the situation in Haiti last weekend. The church has centres in Haiti and is heavily involved in the relief effort.