A CHARITY founded in memory of a Warwick youngster is celebrating ten years of kindness.
Evelyn Smith died suddenly and unexpectedly in 2013 following a misdiagnosed upper airway infection at just seven years-old, leaving family, friends and the community shocked and devastated.
Charity Evelyn’s Gift was started in 2014 and officially launched in June 2015 at an event at the Warwick Arms Hotel.
It had two objectives – to provide acts of kindness for local people in need and to promote CPR and defibrillator training in the community.
Evelyn’s mum, Helen, had to perform CPR on Evelyn, but could not have saved her because of a blocked airway.
Helen said “The sudden, unexpected and preventable loss of Evelyn remains agonisingly painful, but I find some comfort in knowing that her short life continues to touch others. All of this work is inspired by Evelyn to create a fitting legacy for her, which has reached thousands of people in many different ways.”
Evelyn was full of love and kindness, and even at a young age recognised the importance of being kind to others, and the difference it can make.
Over the past 10 years, the charity’s little acts of kindness have included providing equipment for disabled children, food and clothing for survivors of domestic abuse, equine therapy to support mental health, funding help for funeral costs for children, regular acts of kindness for terminally ill people, and toiletries for modern slavery victims and for vulnerable people.
A significant part of the charity’s work is associated with bereavement. An estimated 500 bereavement support packs for under ten-year-olds, have been sent out across Warwickshire to families, schools and charities.
Evelyn’s Gift also works closely with Warwickshire County Council’s children’s services in various ways, including providing trips for children that are in a different care setting from their siblings.
Former Warwick mayor Coun Dave Skinner, raised £3,000 for Evelyn’s Gift during his term as one of his chosen charities.
To mark ten years of the charity, Warwick Preparatory School and Coten End Primary School will collect items such as toiletries and activity books, toys and toothbrushes for children being taken into care. There will also be baby essentials for emergency care placements.
Visit evelynsgift.co.uk/ for more information on the charity.
