Canvey family helps struggling families this Christmas

A family and their supporters have donated Christmas presents to more than 50 struggling families this year.

Kevin Crabb, who works at one of our mental health inpatient wards for young people, and his wife Yolanda set up their charity Bobby’s Big Heart five years ago.

They were inspired by their son Bobby, who is autistic. Bobby could not understand why Father Christmas was not able to give toys to all children.

Kevin and Yolanda started asking for donated toys to give to families who could not afford Christmas presents for their children.

Since then, the couple and their administration team (pictured below) have expanded their work and run a food bank all year round.

They also collect clothes and presents for charities and community organisations supporting homeless and elderly people, and send out Easter eggs.

The charity is grateful to local people and businesses who generously provide donations.

Kevin, who is a senior support worker and safeguarding lead at the Poplar Adolescent Unit at Rochford Hospital, said: “At the moment the group is really busy.

“We are helping around 60 families a week with food parcels and we have helped over 50 families with Christmas presents.”

The team have been working since early September to collect, sort, wrap and distribute Christmas presents.

Kevin and Yolanda, who previously worked at the Trust as a senior support worker, run Bobby's Big Heart from their home in Canvey.

The registered charity helps people across Essex.

They do not currently need any more present donations, but food and toiletries are always welcome.

If you would like to help, search for Bobby’s Big Heart on Facebook to find out more about the charity’s work.