'Delightful' Chesterfield schoolgirl donates a quarter of a ton of supplies to foodbank

Rosie and her sister Holly, three, with the items collected for Chesterfield Foodbank.

Little Rosie Drew was spurred into action when she noticed her parents Steph and Chris were putting aside some food each week to donate to homeless people in the town.

She wrote 75 letters urging people to join her by donating to Chesterfield Foodbank and delivered them to homes in her neighbourhood of Stonegravels.

Rosie’s younger sister Holly, aged three, helped by decorating the envelopes and her parents say she has been ‘equally as enthusiastic as Rosie’ about the whole project.

Rosie with the items she collected for Chesterfield Foodbank.

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Mum Steph said: “The response to the letters was incredible! Rosie and Holly were so excited when we received each donation as it was making a difference.

“We had so many donations from local families as well as our family and friends. We also had some lovely letters in return.”

Steph said the family also had plenty of support from Rosie’s school, Highfield Hall Primary School, and Newbold Parish Church Pre-school, which Holly attends.

Rosie's secial delivery for Chesterfield Foodbank.

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Once all the donations were in, Rosie and Chris took the quarter of a ton of food to the foodbank on the Sheepbridge industrial estate, where Rosie was even allowed on a quick tour with social distancing measures in place on Friday, May 22.

Chesterfield Foodbank sent their ‘sincere thanks’ to Rosie who they described as a ‘delightful little girl’.

A spokesperson for the foodbank said: “She worked over two weeks to collect all the donations. Well done Rosie!

“If you want to help like Rosie we have donation points at the Tesco, Morrison’s, Iceland and Asda in Chesterfield and also Morrison’s in Staveley. We are currently particularly short of tinned fruit, tinned tomatoes, tinned spaghetti and dried pasta in sauce packs.

“If you need our help and you are not supported by an agency please contact us to get help at our website.”

As of May 3, Chesterfield Foodbank had fed 1,787 people since the start of 2020.

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