A Warwick Academy primary student gave up birthday presents this year in favour of helping people in need.

Sommer Barclay asked friends and family to give her toiletries for her eighth birthday which she could donate to the charity, the Grateful Bread which distributes food and toiletries to those in need.

Mom Katrina Barclay said: “I think that is pretty selfless for an eight-year-old - she is a really, giving child.

“Warwick Academy did a toiletries drive in January for Grateful Bread and we didn’t make the deadline so we said we could make our own donation.

“People started asking Sommer what she wanted for her birthday. We talked about it together and she said she didn’t really need anything but others did. She said ’what about the toiletries, I’d like to help those less fortunate’.

“She had a little party with her classmates and they all donated and we also bought some of our own. There was about $400 worth of toiletries for men, women, children.”

Grateful Bread is a food and supplies drive launched by Juliana Snelling, owner of Canterbury Law, and Suzi Outerbridge, her personal assistant, in 2017.

It has provided monthly meals as well as clothes and toiletries to those in need.

The food drive ended in March last year owing to Covid-19, but the group continue to donate supplies including toiletries.

“We were thrilled with Sommer’s generosity and kindness - people very much need help at this time. More and more families are struggling and in desperate need.”