Sam Wyeth offers a helping hand for the homeless

AT just eight years old, Sam Wyeth was troubled by the sight of people sleeping rough in his neighbourhood. So he decided to take action.

Sam Wyeth, 11, has been nominated for a Pride of Australia award for raising money for homeless people. Picture : Mike Keating.

AT just eight years old, Sam Wyeth was troubled by the sight of people sleeping rough in his neighbourhood.

So he decided to take action, raffling some of his prized toys at a family BBQ to help the homeless.

He donated the $12 that he raised to the Salvation Army, thus beginning a grassroots charity mission that has inspired his classmates and engaged his community.

Sam first became aware of homeless people in 2011 while travelling into the city on the train.

“A man got on and he was wearing all ragged up clothes and was quite dirty,” Sam said.

“I just couldn’t believe that there was someone out there who didn’t have a house like me and had to sleep outside quite close to where we live,” the Grade Five student said.

“I remember thinking that it wasn’t very fair, and that its not his fault that certain circumstances have led him that way.

“That was when I realised that maybe I could help people as well.”

Sam, now 10, set up a table at the Manchester Primary School fete where people could donate money and later organised a sleep-out with his dad Russell on the last night of winter, raising about $1800 in total.

The school, inspired by Sam’s actions, then formed the Manchester Charity Group, which holds events such as special out-of-uniform days to raise money for people sleeping rough.

Sam was made the group’s president after coming up with the initial idea.

“It made me really happy that lots of people supported me and my idea, and helped people who aren’t as fortunate,” he said.

His mother, Cara Litchfield, said her son was a constant source of inspiration.

“Kids often care about a lot of things but aren’t necessarily sure what they can do about it,” she said.

“Sam’s different. He’s very proactive about how he can help people.”

Sam is constantly thinking of ways he can help others and organised a large collection of towels to keep homeless dogs warm at an animal shelter in Coldstream.

“People aren’t the only living things that are homeless and need someone looking out for them,” Sam said.

He now plans to continue his charity efforts at his new school, Croydon North Primary School, and wants to organise another winter sleep-out soon.

Sam has been nominated for the Pride of Australia’s Community Spirit medal.

For full details and to nominate: heraldsun.com.au/prideofaustralia

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