Lizzy Stokes collected more than 500 pairs of socks for Kids in Need Waikato.
When Lizzy Stokes set out to help Kids in Need Waikato, she found support from both sides of the Tasman.
Girls Guide Lizzy opted to support the organisation’s warmer winter campaign as part of her work towards her Our Planet badge.
Kids in Need was aiming for 1600 pairs of socks – and the Cambridge guide pulled up more than 500 after enlisting help from all quarters.
“She had recently read about the Kids In Need Waikato warmer winter campaign and wanted to do something to help so set herself a goal of collecting 250 pairs of socks in June,” proud mum Kelly told The News.
“She organised the sock collection and made a flyer to promote it”
Friends and family from Cambridge, Hamilton and Australia contributed and “she smashed her goal finishing with 509 pairs”.
Lizzy has had double cause to celebrate – she turned 10 on Sunday.
“At first I was sad, reading about how many kids rely on packs from Kids In Need,” she said
“I think everyone should have a warm home. I feel really happy knowing that so many kids will now have warm socks to wear, because lots of people donated socks and wanted to help.”
Lizzy, a Year 6 student at St Peters catholic school, has been a Pippin, a Brownie, and now a Girl Guide, all at the Cambridge Unit.
Mum, a brownie and a guide when she was Lizzy’s age, said guiding teaches valuable leadership skills and independence, “which are of great benefit in your whole life”.
“I have been a member of Zonta for 20 years. Zonta is a leading global organisation of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. I guess that serving the community runs in the family.”
Kelly explained how after the sock campaign and target was shared with family and friends in Australia and New Zealand and they were “blown away” by the support.
“Family who couldn’t get to the post sent money for her to buy them here. The Zonta Club of Mount Isa sent a big box from northwest Queensland. Her fellow guides and brownies brought them to the meetings, and pupils at her school also contributed to the collection.”
The socks were presented to Kids in Need yesterday.
