Single mum gets thousands in donations from strangers to help feed children

A single mum who was living on one meal a day so she could feed her family has received thousands of pounds in donations from kind strangers.

Kelly Thomson, 43, revealed this week that she has twice been hospitalised due to malnutrition amid the cost of living crisis.

She said she had forgone meals so son, 14, and daughter, 11, could eat - and had even thought about begging to make ends meet.

Kelly, from Slough, decided to launch a GoFundMe page on Friday with a target of just £50 but it has since smashed through that amount.

Read more: Cost of living crisis: The everyday food items soaring in price

The mum-of-two said: "It's been unreal. It's been absolutely crazy. I can't believe the generosity of people.

"A weight has been lifted off my shoulders because I know now that we can afford food for at least a few weeks thanks to the donations.

"I could never have dreamt or imagined that this would happen!”

Donors have left touching messages of support for the mum-of-two and she also revealed one person volunteered to replace both her children's worn-out school uniforms, while another pledged to buy her food each week.

Kelly added: "I can't believe the generosity of people. My faith in humanity has been restored."

New Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released on Wednesday showed the UK inflation rate was the highest since 1982, at 10.1%.

Kelly has just £40 per week to spend on food for her family - often leaving her eating once a day to ensure her children get fed.

She shared her story in a desperate bid to shed light on the crippling inflation hikes.

The single mum had struggled to get by since getting long COVID in December 2020, when she was signed off from her job as a cleaner.

Read more: UK's richest 1% of earners are only group not to see real pay cut

Her universal credit covers her £1,300 monthly rent and a few other costs and she says she has just £160 a month left for everything else.

Kelly told how she was forced to take her children's birthday gifts to second-hand retailer Cash Converters to get money for food, and they rely on a food bank to survive.

But after kind strangers read her story, she has been inundated with supportive messages, offers of support and donations.

"I told my son he might be able to get his scooter back from the Cash Converters and the little smile on his face was amazing," she added.