A Derry charity dedicated to helping children in kinship care has illustrated the kindness they have seen from strangers across the city this Christmas season.
Kindness of Strangers have a number of initiatives in place to ensure that children in difficult circumstances have the best Christmas possible.
Visitors to their Castle Street store can take a child's wish from their Christmas wish tree and make it come true, or can take on one of their 'Special Cases' of children who have been through extremely tough times.
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The fulfilment of wishes this Christmas is reliant on the kindness of the people of the city of Derry and beyond.
The charity have taken to social media to highlight the amazing generosity of communities, individuals and businesses alike.
One amazing story involved Smyths toy store on the Strand Road and will ensure some children's Christmas wishes come true.
On a social media post, Kindness of Strangers said: "We contacted a kind stranger just after 12 noon today. We told the kind stranger that we needed 4 bicycles for 4 boys - 6 year old, 7 year old, 8 year old and a 11 year old as well as helmets for each child.
"We told our kind stranger that we needed the bicycles and the bicycles built and ready to go ASAP because we had our first van ready to go out to children and families this afternoon. Our kind stranger responded ‘no problem’.
"Our van man, Paul went to where the kind stranger worked just after 2pm this afternoon to collect the bicycles. Paul spoke to the kind stranger and handed him a card for payment. The kind stranger would not hear tell of any of it and told our van man, Paul that there was no charge.
"We put the bicycles in the van and this evening we left them out with our families. When our families see this post they will become emotional because the children who are going to receive these bicycles haven’t had the easiest time of it.
"Our kind stranger is called Brendan Ferris. Brendan is the Manager of Smyth’s Toystore on the Strand Road, Derry.
"Thank you, Brendan and thank you to your incredible staff team at Smyth’s for not taking our money and supporting 4 young boys who will feel very special this Christmas. THANK YOU!"
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