The Kindness Of Strangers
Rachel Finn, from Grimsby, in Lincolnshire, appeared on a BBC segment yesterday - where she emptied out just 14 pence and declared: "That's all we've got."
Strangers have flocked to donate more than £26,000 to a desperate mum who had just 14p to her name.
Rachel Finn, from Grimsby, in Lincolnshire, appeared on a BBC segment yesterday - where she emptied out just 14 pence and declared: "That's all we've got."
Now, the 39-year-old, who is living in temporary accommodation, says she has been "blown away" by the outpouring of support.
She and her 18-year-old son, Bradley, have been backed by the likes of pop star Lily Allen.
Her story captured the nation's attention after she emptied her pockets and put down four 2p pieces and six 1p coins on a table for a BBC crew reporting on vulnerable and low-income voters in Grimsby
Mirror Online reports hundreds of kind-hearted strangers have come forward to help Rachel, offering accommodation and donations, including cash, clothing, food, furniture and Christmas gifts for her and Bradley.
A JustGiving page hit the £26,000 mark on Friday morning and the Rock Foundation foodbank, which supports the single mum and her son, has been inundated with offers as well.
Rachel has asked that all donations go to the Rock Foundation so it can help her and others who are in a similar position in Grimsby, where one in four residents are on low incomes and one in two children grow up in poverty.
She said of the support: "I'm a bit overwhelmed, it's amazing. It's blown me away how many people want to help."