Meet the kind Stubbington girl who donated 30 care packages to homeless people in Gosport
WHEN 30 care packages were dropped off to homeless people living in temporary pods by an unknown eight-year-old, it touched the hearts of many.
These gifts were the generous act of Sophie Penny, whose proud mum Katrina came forward after an appeal by Gosport Borough Council to find the kind-hearted youngster was published in The News.
Sophie, from Stubbington, spent £40 of her own money to bring essential toiletries and clothing to people living in the Walpole Park accommodation with a handwritten note last week.
But this is not the first time she has shown how kind she can be.
Last year, Sophie earned a citizenship award at her school, Crofton Anne Dale, and put on a bake sale to raise £150 for Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank.
Katrina said: ‘Sophie has always been really thoughtful and caring especially towards the homeless. She wants to do something big every year now.’
Sophie always smiles at homeless people when she sees them, but struggles to chat with them as she has selective mutism, and can only speak to some family members and a few friends.
Her interest in helping the homeless started when she was around three or four, and was walking through Fareham town centre with her dad Kevin when she asked why there was a man sitting by the side of the road.
After Kevin explained about homelessness, the pair bought him a cup of coffee and since then Sophie has wanted to do what she can.
The kind youngster said: ‘I like helping people that have less than me and will continue to help them every year.’
This year’s donation was inspired by a YouTube video she saw of people in America donating items to homeless people.
Sophie’s generosity impressed a couple of ladies at her grandma’s church so much that they gave her £20 towards her next big project.
The compassion for homelessness clearly runs in the family, as her dad Kevin – technical director for Matrix IT – slept rough for a night last year at Fratton Park for the CEO Sleepout where bosses from different companies raised money for the homeless.