Seven-year-old Chesterfield girl raises cash for foodbank

Caring Esther Walker, a pupil at Spire Nursery and Infant School, was spurred into action after watching a story on the news about the work of foodbank volunteers.

Esther’s mum Rachel said she was ‘immensely proud’ of her daughter when Esther decided to help out by baking cakes and sweets for a special bake sale at school.

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“We were sat watching the news one night when there was a story about foodbanks,” Rachel said. “When it came to her bedtime story she asked what a foodbank was.

“It must have bothered her because she then kept asking little questions and asked if there was anything we could do to help.

“We bought some food and took it to the collection point at the library but it was obvious she still wanted to do more.”

They decided to sell sweets and cakes on a stall at school and raised about £80.

The cakes were all made by Esther, her sister Erica, five, and Esther’s school friends, with a little help from Rachel.

“Whenever Esther sees a homeless person she always asks if we can buy that person some food,” Rachel added.

“The bake sale has made her really happy and she told me she was proud of herself. Esther’s dad Robert and I are so proud of her.”

Spire headteacher Fiona McLaughlin said: “We are really proud that our children are learning from such a young age that enterprise and altruism go hand in hand.”