East Lothian school boy donates his birthday money to local food charity

Fraser Reekie donated £20 he was gifted on his ninth birthday to East Lothian Sunday Fresh Chicken Dinner Boxes.

A nine year old boy from East Lothian has melted hearts across the region by donating his birthday money to a local food charity.

Fraser Reekie from Tranent celebrated his ninth birthday by donating £20 that he was gifted to East Lothian Sunday Chicken Dinner Boxes, a community initiative that provides people who are financially struggling with fresh food parcels.

Catriona, Fraser’s mum, is so proud of her son, telling the Edinburgh Evening News: “He’s such a lovely, kind young man.

“It was out of the blue, I asked him if he had done something at school about it, and he just said no. He said ‘it just came to my mind mum’.

“He always makes me proud.”

Fraser’s family had donated to the Chicken Boxes initiative during lockdown, sending food and toiletries to the charity, and one of Fraser’s friends at school had run a half marathon to raise money for it.

Catriona continued: “That’s how he had heard of it.

“It’s an amazing charity, it makes such a difference to people.

“I think that living and growing up in an area that values community, like our area, is inspiring to everyone.

“I’m always in awe of people around here, they’re always so quick to help out and support others.”

East Lothian Chicken Dinner Boxes provide a box that allows people to cook a healthy and tasty Sunday dinner from scratch, but they also provide a wide array of food and toiletries to families who are struggling.

Their service is confidential and delivers all over East Lothian and anyone wanting to donate can do so on their Facebook page.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “We are so grateful for Fraser’s donation.

“It is such a selfless thing to do to help the people in our community and we have invited Fraser to come and help us pack the food ready for delivery so he can see where the money he has donated is spent.”

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