Schoolgirl's 'amazing' response after being targeted by low act
Evie Gibson, 10, was left heartbroken after thieves undid all her hard work – but it certainly didn't crush her spirit of generosity.
A devastated schoolgirl who was targeted by brazen thieves has transformed her heartbreak into a touching story of generosity.
NSW girl Evie Gibson, 10, devoted hours of her time to collecting cans — which she had planned on trading for cash via the state's Return and Earn scheme — and was left shattered upon finding out they had all been stolen from her home, located in Bradbury, near Campbelltown in Sydney.
Evie's grandmother, Mandy Harrison, said not only was the brazen act heartless, it left the family feeling vulnerable having a person trespass onto their property and steal the cans in broad daylight.
Schoolgirl targeted by brazen thieves
Ms Harrison earlier told Yahoo News Australia she'd raised Evie since she was just two weeks old and was trying to teach her the value of money before the shocking theft occurred. Cruelly, the pair had been due to deposit their haul and collect the cash in just a matter of days.
Since the crime in October last year, little Evie decided she wouldn't let the act deter her, and continued on her mission to collect enough cans to buy herself a pair of new sneakers – the ones "that all the kids are wearing".
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Evie Gibson's 'amazing' response after theft
After eventually amassing an impressive $500 from the scheme — a feat she was able to achieve thanks to can donations from her local community — Evie eventually bought herself a long-awaited pair of Converse shoes. And in a further "selfless" move, she decided to donate the remaining amount to those in need.
"The other day, we sat down, we're having a bit of a conversation and I said how people were going out and helping the Salvation Army at Christmas time and volunteering — and she said 'you know what grandma, I'd like to do that'," Ms Harrison told Yahoo.
The pair then tossed up ways Evie could give back to her community, being just 10 years old, when the schoolgirl came up with the idea of donating her leftover can money.
"She made about $500 [from the scheme] and then she spent $300 to buy a pair of jeans, a top and her Converse," Ms Harrison said. "She was going to put the rest into her bank, when she came up with the idea of giving it to the residents at the local aged-care home."
Joking that Evie relates closely to older people "because she lives with her grandma", Ms Harrison said it was among her proudest moments hearing that her granddaughter could be so generous at such a young age. "The stuff that comes out of her mind at just 10 — it's amazing," she said.
"She bought biscuits, because 'old people like biscuits' and she bought socks, because she said I'm always cold," Harrison joked. "We also bought special puzzle books, which Evie was really excited about."
Just a day before the pair were due to give the special donation to the IRT Aged Care facility in Campbelltown, the family were struck down with a chest infection and were told to hold off until all symptoms had completely cleared.
Ms Harrison said she hopes the duo will be well by Monday, when they can make the special delivery. "We might have to change the [Santa-themed] outfits now," she said in jest. "To something a bit more 'Happy New Year' — but Evie can't wait".
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