Dayo inspires kind-hearted Port care staff to send basic necessities to women and children in Nigeria

It was all thanks to a senior care who wanted to make his trip to Nigeria to attend his mother's funeral help people in the community where he grew up.

The kind-hearted carers arranged for donations to be collected for those in need in senior carer Adedayo (Dayo) Stoney’s home town of Akure.

Before his trip home, Dayo had planned to fill his suitcase with sanitary items for local mother and baby units and stationary for local schools.

But due to an overwhelming response from his colleagues, it was no longer possible to take the items in a suitcase, resulting in staff chipping in to pay for the items to travel the thousands of miles journey through the postal service.

The deserving causes for the gifts were a mother and baby unit, a local school, a boy’s football team and a motherless baby unit.

Whitby House staff Brenda Hughes, Dayo and Shian Jones

Dayo said: “I was travelling back home for my mother’s funeral and though it was an upsetting trip to make, I wanted there to be la positive side to it.

“When I visited the mother and baby unit, there was a mother who was unable to go home due to not being able to pay her hospital bill. I knew I wanted to help, and I was informed that the bill was around 2,800 Nigerian Naira which is only £6! I paid her bill and she couldn’t express enough how appreciative she was.

“It’s very humbling to know that I have helped someone less fortunate than myself and I’m grateful I had the chance to show love to those who need it most.”

Whitby House staff with items bound for Nigeria

Shian Jones, activities coordinator at Whitby House, said: “The staff and residents at Whitby House are like one big family and when we came up with the idea of a collection for Dayo’s hometown I knew we would pull together.

“I’m overwhelmed at the support we received and I’m so pleased to have been part of this hugely positive impact somewhere on the other side of the world.”