'Share the warmth,' 9-year-old urges as she collects blankets for Londoners in need
Jessica Poff wants to teach her daughter to pass on kindness to everyone around her
When nine-year-old Kaida Poff walked by a man huddled in a downtown London doorway and wondered why he didn't have blankets to keep him warm, her mom explained that not everyone had a home or a warm place to live, and the girl sprang into action.
"She told me, 'I have lots of blankets. Can I give him mine?' So, we went home and washed some blankets and gave them to people," said Jessica Poff, Kaida's mother.
That was a few years ago. Now a Grade 4 student at Aberdeen Public School, Kaida has been collecting socks, blankets and other winter necessities for people who have less than she does.
"I want to share the warmth," she told CBC's Afternoon Drive during an interview on the Make the Season Kind radio broadcast, which raises money for the London Food Bank.
The broadcast showcases people who step up, and has already raised more than $18,000 and counting for the food bank.
"The world is too negative and my daughter wears her heart on her sleeve," said mom Jessica Poff. "She doesn't like people being bullied. She doesn't like seeing people be sad. She's trying to be a bigger person, and she's just very quick to help."
Seeing someone's reaction when they've been helped is very rewarding, Kaida said. "They don't have a blanket and they don't have a house, and we do. So I want to share the warmth," she said.
Jessica Poff said a chaplain inspired her when she was in high school, and she's wanted to create bonds between people and communities ever since. "I want my kids to carry that into the future. I want my kids to carry a little bit of happiness wherever they go."
You can attend the London Morning Make the Season Kind live radio broadcast at the London Food Bank from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13.
Make the Season Kind with CBC London
CBC London's Make the Season Kind campaign is in support of the London Food Bank. The goal is to raise money, food donations and awareness for those facing food insecurity in London. This year, the need is greater than ever.
London Morning will be broadcasting LIVE on Friday, Dec. 13, from the London Food Bank warehouse at 926 Leathorne Street. Listeners can come meet the team, see a live radio broadcast in action, and get to know the kindness-makers in our community.