'Ray of sunshine' Frank, 77, helps struggling Nunsthorpe residents hit by cost of living crisis by giving out nearly 100 food parcels
A selfless "community champion" and "ray of sunshine" has been praised by struggling Nunsthorpe residents who have been severely affected by the cost of living crisis after he gave out nearly 100 food parcels to those in need.
Frank Sparkes, 77, also known as the North Wall Cleaner, was on hand with a team of volunteers at Centre4 on Wootton Road, Grimsby on Wednesday to give out parcels containing food, blankets, clothing and other items to anyone who needed them.
After helping elderly people affected by the Winter Fuel Payment last week by giving out an incredible 150 parcels, Frank had been so inundated with donations from people, businesses and organisations that he wanted to hold a second event to help those in the community he lives.
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Frank told Grimsby Live: "I think it's been a really good turn-out and it feels really nice to see people helping themselves. We've done so much for the elderly but now anyone can come and help themselves, so it's fantastic and rewarding.
"I love helping people. I'm still picking up the fly-tipping and I'm anxious to get back at it again, but I just had to do something to help when I heard the Winter Fuel Payment was being cut.
"Every little helps. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it has helped people, and I hope there's a domino effect and I can inspire other people to do similar things. I've had people come up to me and say I've helped them and I've even had children writing me letters - one said the world would be a sad place without me in it. That was a seven-year-old, so that was lovely.
"If we all do a little bit, the world will be a better place."
Many people from Nunsthorpe and surrounding areas attended, including local resident Samantha Barber, who described the work that Frank is doing within the community as "amazing".
She said: "The community is in dire straights because the price of everything has gone up, fuel has gone up and we have no money to buy fuel and food, so this kind of event with these beautiful people is amazing.
"Last week my electric and gas went, and I didn't have anything. My mum lives in Mablethorpe and my friend doesn't have anything so I couldn't ask her, so it was a case of wrapping up and doing what I could. What these people are doing here is bringing the community together."
Fellow Nunsthorpe resident Sarah Miles added: "I've got one daughter and I'm on my own on a low income - the lowest you can get - so I do struggle. But there's always somebody else who is worse off in the world. It's good to help other people, and that's what they're doing today."
According to data released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), around four in 10 adults (41%) who pay energy bills said it was very or somewhat difficult to afford them. Prices of food also rose by seven percent in the year to January 2024.
Volunteer Stuart Engledow, who was helping Frank at the event, said: "Frank does a lot for the community, so I decided to jump on board and get stuck in with him. We've raised some money and people started donating items and it took off from there, and I just think it's a good thing to do for the community. We've had people crocheting blankets and bringing in quilts, sleeping bags and coats, and none of this would be possible without them.
"Lots of people have had their Winter Fuel Payment cut this year and sometimes you hear people saying, 'Well they were over the bracket, so it should be'. But it could be £2 over the bracket you're talking, and people are really struggling. Things like this just makes a difference and helps - even if it's one bag, it helps."
South Ward councillors, Sheldon Mill and Janet Goodwin, were also present at the event helping to give out bags to members of the community.
Cllr Janet Goodwin told Grimsby Live: "We've come to help Frank because he's doing the food parcels for people in the borough, and you've got to take your hat off to him because what he's doing is amazing. We've also helped him with ward funding because some people just haven't got as much as what other people have, so we're here to help.
"And it's not just the food parcels - he clears so much fly-tipping. He's such a community person and with what he's doing now, if he can inspire other people, that's what we're hoping for."
Cllr Sheldon Mill added: "Frank is a real community champion. People are struggling, we know that, so coming along to help him is the least we can do. Helping him is a real privilege. He's a real ray of sunshine and that lights up and inspires other people, which is great."