Angus girl makes friendship boxes for lonely members of local church

9-year-old Lily White used money left over from her cancelled birthday party after coronavirus restrictions were ramped up

Lily White
Author: Callum ClarkPublished 3rd Feb 2021

An Arbroath schoolgirl's used money left over from her cancelled birthday party to make friendship boxes for lonely members of her local church.

Lily White turned 9 in December but wasn't able to celebrate with her friends due to covid restrictions.

She instead made a hundred gifts which included biscuits and motivational quotes.

I know that people would be lonely during lockdown, so I thought about what I could do and took it from there," said Lily.

"There are biscuits, tea, coffee, milk and some drawings. The drawings took forever to do!"

Mum Vicki, who's also an organist at Arbroath West Kirk, said: "She had us all on a conveyor belt! I was on the production line putting a certain biscuit in, she was telling us what to do.

"We gave her £100 that she would have had on her birthday and asked her what she wanted to do with it.

"Lily was thinking about others in the community who wouldn't be happy, so she came up with the idea of doing something for them."

Reverend Christine Hay said members have been overwhelmed by the act of kindness. "They went out last Wednesday and by Friday I had already had half a dozen responses by email or phone call.

"I've also had some daughters of the people who've received the boxes asking me to thank her on their behalf."

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