Santa's little home helper

HAPPY to help . . . Michelle calls in on elderly neighbour Jean Rodgers

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A SELFLESS volunteer has brought joy to dozens of pensioners through her acts of goodwill.

Michelle Johnson (49) has gone out of her way to provide food parcels for the older residents of Limehurst Village for four years.

But the humble resident has done it all without seeking praise or wanting any applause for her efforts.

The mum-of-four rallied the community behind her, securing hundreds of donations which she then packaged up and distributed to pensioners.

Nephew Lee Montgomery supported his aunt this week as she ferried round homes on her estate to help those who struggle to get out in the cold weather.

She said: "Everyone is saying I deserve praise but I really don't want it.

"It is just nice to be able to look after these people.

"Hopefully if the weather is bad they are not going to go hungry.

"When we were at school there were festivals, parents used to raid the cupboards and give us biscuits and people used to help each other but some of that community feel has been lost.

"Maybe this will encourage others to do the same on their estates."

With the help of her nephew, Michelle delivered 26 home-made hampers to nearby residents in Limeside bungalows.

Each gift, wrapped with love, contained tinned goods such as soup and beans and non-perishables such as pasta as well as sweet treats such as biscuits and chocolates.

Michelle uses Facebook to help her in her quest, putting out a status once each year calling on kind-hearted givers to donate tins of food to her cause.

Nephew Steven Johnson said: "My auntie has done this for the last few years out of the goodness of her own heart, giving up her own time.

"She does this without wanting recognition but to help in some way during difficult times.

"I think it's an amazing gesture to give up her own time to make an effort in supporting the pensioners of our community, giving them basic items which they may require during bad weather. It's such a selfless act of kindness."

Michelle added: "Friends and family have been so generous bringing gifts to help me.

"People are sometimes a bit shocked to receive them and ask what it is for.

"The plan is to keep on giving next Christmas."