A young philanthropist in the making is doing what she can at just nine-years-old to help the homeless community.
Mattea Marchand of Chatham spent the month of October visiting various neighbourhoods to collect monetary donations and canned goods for ROCK Missions, a local charitable organization.
Marchand walked down Chatham streets with a wagon and a hand-held horn to honk and let residents know she was collecting donations as part of her "Honk and Walk for the ROCK" campaign.
"We can [usually] go get a snack or something but they can't, they have to just eat what they can and find stuff to eat," said Marchand.
Her grandmother, Darlene Rylett started a Facebook page to help spread the word of what Marchand was doing. Rylett said the Grade 5 student is usually shy but she was able to muster up the courage to talk to residents for the cause -- while taking COVID-19 precautions.
"She watched me help out people and try to do what we can for the community and she wanted to do something of their very own," said Rylett. "Her heart is big and she wanted to help them out as much as she could."
Marchand's initial goal was to raise $1,000 but she surpassed that goal and raised $1,715.
While she was out collecting donations for ROCK Missions, Marchand also handed out flyers for The Gift, to inform residents of the upcoming initiative to leave out gifts and non-perishable items on November 21.
Rylett said although the original plan was to collect donations for one month, Marchand wants to continue with Honk and Walk for the ROCK Missions.
"We explained to her, with The Gift happening, we're going to wait a bit but she [said she] is going to continue," she said.
Rylett said she is proud of the determination her granddaughter has shown in wanting to help their "street friends".
"Everyone of our family and friends, neighbours, everybody in the community has been so proud and so supportive of Mattea," she said.
