Two enterprising and kind local sisters have raised money for a Bedford homeless charity by selling mistletoe that was growing on their grandmother’s crab-apple tree.
Millie, 8, and Phoebe, 6, said that they came up with the idea a few years ago and last year gave money to the Kings Arms Project.
This year they chose SMART CJS, a charity helping homeless people.
“Bedford’s homeless are being helped by doctors, nurses, dentists and other people thanks to SMART,” said Millie.
“Granny said that it can make a big difference to helping you to get a job or look after yourself better, just by having an aching tooth taken out.
”When Granny told me that £100 can buy 200kgs of food which will last two weeks we were amazed.”
Millie and Phoebe said it “wasn’t great” selling the mistletoe in the cold weather for three to four hours but it “helped us imagine what it would be like to be cold all the time in winter if you were homeless.”
“We must never take for granted how lucky we are and always think of others who aren’t so lucky, especially at Christmas,” said Millie.
Phoebe added, “my hands were freezing cold when I was selling the mistletoe and it was horrible. I’d hate to be cold all the time.”
Granny Wendy and Grandfather Steve harvested and helped set up the stall to sell the mistletoe.
Wendy said: “They are lovely girls, and my husband and I are thrilled that at such a young age they recognise their privilege and show so much concern for others. Not only that, but they did something practical about it.”
Totalling up their sales, Millie and Phoebe found they’d raised £120
SMART Chief Executive, Anita McCallum, said that will go a long way.
“I am really impressed at both the kindness and enterprise that Millie and Phoebe have shown and at the work they have put in to raise the magnificent sum of £120 for us,” she said.
“It wasn’t easy for them, but they saw it through. With permission from the girls we have added their donation to the CRIB appeal to reopen the Prebend Homeless Centre – the money they have collected will go towards helping the very people they have shown so much concern for.“
For more information about SMART CJS visit smartcjs.org.uk.
To help reopen the Prebend Homeless Centre in Bedford please donate to the CRIB appeal at smartcjs.org.uk/crib.
