Foodbank schoolboy opens 'present bank' for poor children this Christmas

A kind-hearted schoolboy is helping the poor this Christmas by opening his FIFTH foodbank and donating toys to families who can't afford to buy presents.

Isaac Winfield hit the headlines just two months ago after a foodbank outside his home was robbed by a lowlife thief wearing a sinister panda mask.

They escaped with £50 worth of food leaving the shelves bare and the generous schoolboy devastated just days before his 12th birthday.

Despite being targeted over Halloween, Isaac remained determined to continue helping others and has now opened his first 'present bank' in time for Christmas.

Isaac had previously launched his food bank initiative from his shed by using his birthday money during the pandemic in December 2020.

The youngster soon won legions of followers and gathered donations from businesses and wellwishers which he distributed to those in need of extra support.

He went on to open additional foodbanks in his home town of Redditch, Worcs., after realising how many people in his community needed a helping hand.

He has now had to enlist the help of his local pub to store all the donated goods after being inundated with hundreds of toys and gifts for needy families this year.

The present bank opened yesterday (Tue) while his fifth foodbank will open its doors today (Wed) to keep up with demand over Christmas.

Proud mum Claire, 43, said: "Christmas can be a stressful time and Isaac wanted to help as many people as possible have a celebration without worrying about what is under the tree.

"He is absolutely ecstatic seeing his shelves full with toys and gifts for families he’s dedicated his weekends and spare time to helping is the best Christmas present he could have asked for.

"Isaac wrote to Santa this year asking if he could bring poor children presents instead - all he wants to do is help people.

"He is opening the present bank alongside our fifth food bank because the demand is there. It's our biggest operation by far.

"In the first day we had 200 children arriving for toy parcels. We're busier than ever.

"We've had to enlist the help of the Greenland pub to fit all the donations in because the sheds aren't big enough anymore.

"The response has been phenomenal. We'll be holding present bank days another three times at this same pub and put on more dates if there's still the demand.

"It has all been quite overwhelming to see. We've had baby toys, books, dolls, teddies, Nerf guns, blankets, toiletries, there's just a bit of everything here.

"The fifth food bank has been opened alongside the YMCA and the support we've had for the present bank has been incredible also."

The youngster started his Friend’s of Isaac’s Food Bank group three years ago on Facebook which went viral and now helps hundreds of families every week.

After being targeted by the thief on on October 2, well-wishers gathered around to restock the food bank with thousands of pounds worth of donations.

Claire said: "We were blown away by the donations we've had since the theft. Isaac has gone from being heartbroken to elated.

"The response has been truly overwhelming and so many people have shown amazing generosity.

"When the theft happened, Isaac was devastated but this has restored his faith in humanity and really shows the goodness in people.

"We wouldn’t have got this far without the generosity of the public and even though us adults put in some hard work it's all thanks to Isaac this has all happened."