South Shields five-year-old's heartwarming fundraiser after being touched by WaterAid television advert
A kindhearted young girl from South Shields set up her own store selling cakes in her family post office to raise money for WaterAid after being touched by the plight of others less fortunate on the charity’s television adverts.
Anjali Arneja, five, from South Shields raised almost £100 by selling cakes made from her own Easter eggs at her family shop, the Carden Avenue Convenience Store in Marsden.
The young fundraiser initially asked mum if she could sell her own handbag in the family shop to raise money for the cause before baking cakes, cookies and brownies which she sold for £2 each.
Parents Jess Arneja and Sherry Singh say they are ‘very proud’ of their daughter.
Jess said: “It was spur of the moment idea, she had seen the WaterAid advert quite a lot and she feels for it, then she asked initially asked if she could sell her handbag in the shop to raise money.
“We were quite surprised when she came out with it but it was lovely to see her fundraising at such a young age – she really understands the meaning behind it.”
The money raised by the five-year-old will be donated to the charity on Thursday, April 15, in honour of Anjali’s great-grandfather Surjeet Kundi’s birthday.
Surjeet sadly passed away in November last year.
The five-year-old set up her store using her Punch and Judy booth.
She even made her own video to promote the fundraiser which dad Sherry posted on Facebook to help spread the word.
Jess added: “We are so proud of her and we are really touched by it – you don’t usually hear of little girls wanting to give their shoes and handbags away!
"The community have been brilliant and we have had had such lovely feedback from customers, even friends and family who don’t live in the area have been donating and Anjali loved every minute of it.”
Anjali’s cake store raised a total of £89 with more donations to come from friends and family before Thursday.