Collection for family burgled five times

Meg Blakely (left) started the Givealittle page to show a little gratitude toward the positivity of Sarah Chilton (right) and her family, including son Oliver, 11. Photo / Paul Taylor

A Napier woman hopes to bring Christmas to a family who have been burgled five times in as many months.

EIT student Meg Blakely, 22, started a Givealittle page for classmate Sarah Chilton's family to show her gratitude for the positivity they brought others, and to help make their Christmas a little easier.

"Her personality is so bright, she makes everyone smile," Ms Blakely said, "you wouldn't even know they'd been robbed, she's such a happy person."

The Chiltons had their Frimley Ave home burgled four times during July and August, with the most recent at the end of November. Ms Chilton said around $5000 worth of items had been taken, including iPads, iPods, phones, and a camera.

Most items had been taken from their back porch, but this area was part of the house, down a long driveway, and where the family spent most of their time.

Despite the robberies, the mother-of-two said she tried to be a positive person and concentrate on others as "everyone's going through hard times".

After the fifth robbery she even wrote a Facebook status to the robbers, writing: "I imagine we will be hosting your presence again in the near future, might I suggest waiting until after Christmas for the 'mega haul' of goodies that you seem to think we can afford to purchase time and time again."

The worst thing had been the theft of one of her son's scooters, Ms Chilton said. His birthday was on Christmas Day but to spread the financial burden he received the scooter at his "half-birthday" in June.

"Now it's his real birthday and his main present has been taken just before Christmas."

Ms Chilton said she had been absolutely stunned and delighted with Ms Blakely's kindness, but was also a little embarrassed.

"We don't need [the money] like other people need it, its hard to accept kindness sometimes."

Ms Blakely said she didn't feel the mum, wife, and hardworking student deserved what had happened, but did deserve to have a good Christmas.

"I made it an open donation so people could just give $2 here or there. I thought that would be enough for a full Christmas banquet," she said.

-If you would like to help the Chilton family out this Christmas, visit Christmas For The Chiltons on the Givealittle website.