Big-hearted schoolboy collects food to help Derbyshire's homeless

A big-hearted schoolboy was inspired to help the homeless after reading about the issue in the Derbyshire Times.
Tom Griffiths and mum Julie with the mountain of donations. Picture: Jason Chadwick.Tom Griffiths and mum Julie with the mountain of donations. Picture: Jason Chadwick.
Tom Griffiths and mum Julie with the mountain of donations. Picture: Jason Chadwick.

Nine-year-old Tom Griffiths and his mum Julie launched a social media campaign to collect produce for the St Michael’s soup kitchen in Chesterfield town centre.

More than 400 tins of food have been donated by kind strangers who saw the Facebook appeal.

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Julie, 41, of Elliott Drive, Inkersall, said: “Tom saw a very sad story about a homeless person on the front page of the Derbyshire Times a few weeks ago and said he wanted to do something to help.

Tom Griffiths with the mountain of food he's collected for charity. Picture: Jason Chadwick.Tom Griffiths with the mountain of food he's collected for charity. Picture: Jason Chadwick.
Tom Griffiths with the mountain of food he's collected for charity. Picture: Jason Chadwick.

“I told him he could collect some food for the soup kitchen and he set about doing so.

“We’ve had so many strangers come forward with donations and we’d like to say a massive thank you to them.

“As for Tom, I’m so proud of him.

“He’s a very generous boy with a very big heart. He’s already wondering what he can do next to help other people.”

Tom Griffiths with the mountain of food he's collected for charity. Picture: Jason Chadwick.Tom Griffiths with the mountain of food he's collected for charity. Picture: Jason Chadwick.
Tom Griffiths with the mountain of food he's collected for charity. Picture: Jason Chadwick.
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Tom, a pupil at Inkersall Primary School, said: “Thank you to my mum for helping me with my project. I was worried about people who haven’t got somewhere to live.”

Julie added: “St Michael’s tell us this food will make a big difference to many people’s lives.

“They’re very grateful.”

Grace Chapel is a part of the international network of churches called the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

For more information, visit www.gracechapeluk.org