Kind toddler who feeds homeless set to invite them to his birthday
A selfless toddler is helping to feed the homeless in his home city and now wants to invite them to his birthday party next month.
Two-year-old Lincoln Hanley was apparently so shocked by a documentary his parents Elissa Hanley, 28, and Jamie Hanley, 29, were watching about rough sleepers that he insisted they help him ‘feed the people’.
The adorable tot, from Peterborough in the UK, went shopping with call centre worker dad Jamie picking up bread, sandwich fillers, sweets and dog food.
After making sandwiches and heating up soup the pair headed into Peterborough city centre on a Friday night earlier this month to hand the food out.
After a successful trip the youngster is now planning on sharing his birthday cake with his newfound friends.
“It was all Lincoln’s idea. We’ve not worked with homeless people before and when he wanted to do it we said ‘go for it’,” Mother and call centre worker Elissa Hanley said.
“We wanted to encourage him. He just wanted to feed the people and the dogs.
“I’m unbelievably proud of him, I hope it makes people more aware.
“Jamie and I were watching a documentary about homeless people. Lincoln was in the room playing and we didn’t think he was paying too much attention to it.
“There was a dog with the homeless lady on the screen and he started saying there was a dog and it had no food. He was asking where the lady slept.
“We explained to him that the dog and lady didn’t have any food and he said ‘me go and feed the people’.
“He kept going on about how he wanted to feed the people, he was really interested in it.”
Mr Hanley gave Lincoln $36 and took him to the supermarket where they bought bread, soup, sandwich filler, dog food and sweets.
“They went to the town centre on a Friday night and were walking around to find some people they could speak to,” Ms Hanley said.
“Lincoln was asking people himself, he was approaching them and asking if they wanted any food. He was really excited about it.
“They found a man called Joseph who Lincoln really took a liking to. He gave Joseph lots of sweets and sandwiches.
“There was another man called Henry who had a dog so he got to give him some dog food which he was really happy about.
“He invited Joseph to his birthday party next month and he’s been saying he wants to go back and give him some birthday cake.
“I know it seems far-fetched that a two-year-old would want to do that. Now when we go into town he always asks if we’ve got food for the people.”
Lincoln’s proud father told of their altruistic adventure.
“When walking through the city centre that evening, I was very cautious as to who we approached,” Mr Hanley said.
“The few people we did approach seemed very shy and nervous at first, but as Lincoln offered them food, shook their hands and said hello, they soon opened up and were very receptive to Lincoln’s cause offering a smile, conversation and gratitude.
“Lincoln offered sandwiches, crisps, chocolate, sweets, hot chicken soup and juice cartons and dog food to anybody who was accompanied with a dog.
“Now every time we are out, as we pass by the homeless people we spoke to and offered food to, we often hear ‘hello Lincoln’ followed by short but friendly conversation and a polite hand shake.
“Lincoln has responded very well to this. He’s made friends for life and developed a very keen attitude towards those in need and less fortunate than himself.
“He plans to make this a regular thing and myself and his mum help to encourage this.
“He has become very aware that the winter weather is creeping in so we are looking to provide people with blankets, food, hot soup, hats, gloves and scarves.
“We love our son and are very proud of him. We would encourage any parent to do the same with their children as it is very rewarding.”
