Leo Ehlers-Labuschagne celebrated his ninth birthday by donating 300 food parcels to iThemba Soup Kitchen to assist those in need.

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The Grade Three St Benedict’s Junior Preparatory School learner preferred food parcels instead of birthday gifts.

This is the kind gesture previously demonstrated by his sister Tenique at St Andrew’s School for Girls in Bedfordview.

In celebration of her 11th birthday, she donated 1 250 peanut butter sandwiches to iThemba Soup Kitchen, which were handed out to the soup kitchen beneficiaries.

Following his sister’s example Leo, in hopes of changing the world one day at a time, reached out to iThemba too and delivered the food parcels on April 5.

The food parcels were accompanied by 50 plastics bags of snacks for children who were at the soup kitchen with their parents.

He helped the iThemba staff to distribute the parcels to beneficiaries on April 6 with the help of his parents Monique Ehlers and Terren Labuschagne.

Leo encouraged his peers to do the same.

“I challenged my classmates to lend a helping hand to communities in need. A bit of help can go a long way,” Leo said.

On the day of his birthday, April 5, Leo also visited the Burning Stars FC soccer team at their training ground accompanied by his father.

Together they donated pull-string bags and water bottles to the players.

“Seeing that the boys train on gravel filled with rubble we took it upon ourselves to negotiate with officials at the Primrose Sporting Centre to let the boys train there and we’ll help maintain the field for them,” said Terren.