The big-hearted owner of a children’s clothing store has donated tens of thousands of dollars of unsold stock to an aid campaign for Caribbean islands devastated by hurricane strikes.

Francesca Cacace, who owns Blukids store in Hamilton’s Washington Mall, said the new summer-season clothes would be shipped to Antigua in partnership with cruise organisers Ubersoca and the promoters of Bermuda Heroes Weekend, and then on to islands hammered by the storms.

Ms Cacace, 27, who gave birth to son Luca only a month ago, explained: “After the hurricane, we decided that instead of holding back unsold merchandise, we would donate anything left over.

“We watched week after week another storm going through. We were very fortunate that we weren’t hit and that Bermuda’s homes are so well-built.”

The clothes — more than 4,000 separate items — include outwear for babies up to teenagers, as well as underwear.

Ms Cacace said: “It’s a great thing that the island has come together; everyone has been asking how they can donate.

“It’s wonderful how our island has supported the other islands.”

Sandra Richards-Vance, director of Bermuda Heroes Weekend, said her organisation had already teamed up with Ubersoca, a Bermuda-based organiser of annual soca cruises, to ship non-perishable relief supplies to the Caribbean when Ms Cacace’s mother Yvonne, who owns clothes store Stefanel on Reid Street, told her about Francesa’s plan. Francesca said: “It was our idea to send the merchandise and my mom was working with Bermuda Heroes Weekend, so it was a good way to send things down there.”

Ms Richards-Vance said: “We are very pleased Blukids has decided to assist us in our efforts by donating brand-new clothes.”

She added that a shipment of brand new clothes would bring some happiness to children who may have lost everything in the storms.

Ms Richards-Vance said: “I’m sure the kids will have a really great time picking clothes — it’s really nice stuff.”