A nine-year-old boy inspired by support given to him during periods of ill health donated supplies to a food bank out of his pocket money to help others in need this Christmas.
Malakai Jones made the heart-warming gesture to the fund at Wrexham Glyndwr University, where his mum, Gemma Jones, studies.
Malakai had surgery at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital two years ago to treat a heart condition and has been keen to help others ever since.
He saved his pocket money for four weeks before heading off to buy goods for the food bank, including sugar, tea, coffee, milk and cereal.
Gemma, who is studying on a families and childhood studies degree, said: “Malakai always remembers how kind everyone has been when he he’s been poorly and wants to donate something to food banks every year.
“When he found out about the ones at the university he decided to save all of his pocket money to buy most of the items which were on the shopping list on the front of the food boxes.”
Malakai is no stranger to fundraising having ran a mile to raise money for Autism Wishes, a charity set up to raise awareness of autism. He has also donated to food banks in local supermarkets.
Naomi Squire, Wrexham Glyndwr University Chaplaincy Coordinator, thanked Malakai for his contributions towards the university’s food bank.
She said: “Malakai’s donation is very kind and generous and will support the outstanding response we’ve had to the Chaplaincy Foodbank appeal this year. I am still waiting to receive the final total weight of items we’ve donated from the Foodbank Warehouse, but I think it was easily 4-5 times more thank the already impressive 20kg we donated last year.
“We also received a number of beautifully put together gift bags to be distributed amongst some of Wrexham’s homeless people which were donated by local Muslims. The bags have been taken to the local Salvation Army who distributed them with the Christmas Lunches they provided on Christmas day.”
