Kintore girl's Christmas appeal providing gifts for elderly
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A Kintore youngster is spreading festive cheer by ensuring older people who are isolated have a gift this Christmas.
Rubi McLaughlin (8) decided she wanted to help lonely residents in the community when she heard on a radio report while in the car that the coronavirus pandemic was going to make their situation worse.
She suggested to her mum Kirsty Massie that they could try and get selection boxes and make cards to give to them.
The community rallied round the cause and the expected 20 selection boxes have grown to more than 200, which have been donated by the public and businesses.
Rubi's classmates at Midmill Primary School, where she is in primary four, and pupils at Kintore Primary School have been helping her make Christmas cards and letters to accompany the gifts and let the older people know the community is thinking about them.
Kirsty said: "We were in the car in the morning on the way to school and the radio presenters were talking about how it is going to be different for the elderly this year and isolation and loneliness will be more apparent.
"We had already given to selection box appeals for younger children and Rubi said that she wanted to do the same for the older people."
Kirsty put out an appeal on the Kintore community Facebook page that they were collecting selection boxes for the elderly to see if anyone would like to donate and received an overwhelming response.
She added: "We have had so many with more than 200 being donated and also so many people have offered their help whether it be wrapping the gifts or setting up a collection point. People just wanted to give."
Kirsty reached out to Kintore Parish Church which will help her distribute the festive packages to elderly people who are living independently, in care homes and sheltered housing in Kintore.
With the large amount of donations, which include other festive treats, they may also be able to be distributed in the wider area and in Inverurie.
"I am very proud of what Rubi has done. It is something really good for the community and we are grateful to everybody that has helped," added Kirsty.
