Five-year-old primary school pupil Zac Mutete handing over his parcels and presents for the homeless at the Crisis centre on Surrey Street today
A Croydon five-year-old has raised more than £700 for Christmas gift packs for people who are homeless.
Zac Mutete, a Year 1 pupil at Chestnut Park Primary School in Broad Green first started fundraising for Crisis at the age of three, when he found out that people were living on the street because they didn’t have a home.
This year, he donated his pocket money and collected a total of £721 as friends and family, and even some people who don’t know him, felt inspired to contribute to his online fundraising page.
His mum, Lee Webster, has helped him put together packs of chocolate, socks and woolly hats which Zac delivered to Crisis’ Skylight Centre on Surrey Street today.
Crisis has adapted its services this year so that it can provide vital support in a safe and socially distanced way.
For nearly 50 years the charity has provided volunteer-run centres at Christmas, offering food, clothing, advice and support with health, housing, employment and benefits so that people who are homeless can spend the season in the company of others, and to help put them on a path out of homelessness for good.
Webster said: “Zac became genuinely concerned when we explained to him why people were sleeping on the streets.
“He is very passionate about doing all that he can to help out. Crisis has been really helpful in advising us on how to help someone who is homeless. We didn’t want to ask people directly for money but have been surprised by everyone’s generous contributions following a few posts on Facebook.”
Zac said: “It’s really cold outside and some people don’t have houses and they’re not always warm and they don’t have beds to sleep in. They live on the street. I decided to give them gloves with my £5 pocket money and to ask my family and friends to help me buy scarves and hats and socks and chocolate and crisps.
“Thanks to everyone who has donated.”
Crisis’s Richard Lee expressed the charity’s thanks to Zac and his family. “We rely on wonderful fundraisers like Zac to be able to support people who have been forced on to the streets, into sofa surfing, or into a hostels with nowhere to call home and no one to be with.
“This has been a tough year for many of us and it’s shown us how much we depend on each other for connection, hope and support in difficult times. It has also reminded us how essential a safe and secure home is.
“With the support of people like Zac, we can give more people a Crisis Christmas and help them leave homelessness behind for good.”
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The Spirit of Christmas is alive and well ! Thanks Zac !