Rita sends warm clothes for needy kids
A kind-hearted pensioner has sent boxes of warm clothes and toys to orphans - with a little help from her friends.
Rita McCoy has been sending knitted hats, jumpers, scarves and childrens games to the Mantsesy orphanage in the Kingdom of Lesotho for the past 11 years.
She has now sent across another 14 boxes after Havant Lions Club generously donated 300 to pay for them to fly over.
Mrs McCoy, of Havant Farm Road, was also given 100 by Browns hairdressers, in North Street, Havant, to help to buy tennis balls and balloons to keep the youngsters entertained.
She said: 'I couldn't do it without all the support I get from the Lions club and Browns. Lots of ladies knit for me and my friend Ann Hood is a great help.
'People wonder why I send warm clothes to African but what they don't realise is at night it gets absolutely freezing. When I was there the trees bent over because the wind was so strong.
'The children in the orphanages are the lucky ones. There are many who live on the streets.'
Mrs McCoy buys many of the gifts herself throughout the year and is always overwhelmed with the amount of knitted goods she receives from generous members of the public.
She added: 'They love the games. I've even put wrapping paper in so the children can open some presents on Christmas Day.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 04 February 2012
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