Nine-year-old girl from Essex donates hundreds of gifts to charity
It is the fifth year Darcey Strutt has collected and donated presents
Darcey Strutt, from Burnham-on-Crouch, has donated around 600 Christmas gifts to charity over the past four years.
This year, the pupil from Burnham Primary School decided to collect presents for the Rainbow Trust.
Darcey said: “I am donating to the Rainbow Trust because it's a charity for ill children, which means that probably their moms and dads are spending a lot of money on hospitals and medication.”
‘Darcey’s Christmas Present Appeal’ started when the young girl was just four years old, and she asked her mum why people were collecting money in buckets at the local carnival:
“When my mum explained to me what they were, I decided to do my own appeal. I heard that not everyone gets gifts at Christmas time, and I wanted everyone to get a Christmas present,” Darcey said.
Jade Strutt, Darcey’s mum, says that everyone is very proud of Darcey:
“Darcey is a kind and caring girl; she will always put anybody else before herself. So, it doesn't surprise me that this is something she wants to do every year. We're all very proud of her.”
In light of the cost-of-living crisis, both Darcey and Jade are thankful for everyone who has already donated to the appeal.
Darcey said: “I'm really grateful that we have quite a lot so far because money is probably really tight this year. So, it means a lot when people can spare a couple pounds to buy a present for my appeal.”
Jade added that there are other ways people can help if they are not able to donate.
She said: “We’ve been asking people to just share our social media posts, invite family and friends to our Facebook group and also have posters advertising for us in local shops.”