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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Charlotte Phillips & Alice Clifford & Charlie Duffield

Mystery in town as money keeps being posted through front doors to pay energy bills

An unknown gift-giver has delighted residents after posting Christmas cards through their letterboxes, with a fiver each to contribute towards the mounting cost of energy bills.

People living on a street in Chatham, Kent, were blown away by the man's altruism and kindness.

Maxine Parker-Gallagher is a resident on the street that received the festive surprise, and was overwhelmed by the altruistic gesture.

The 58-year-old explained: "Yesterday evening there was a card put through the letterbox and I went to pull it out and saw that it was blank on the front and I thought that was strange.

"I opened it up and inside it had that little message and it just blew me away - I thought it was just so kind."

People living on a street in Chatham, Kent, have been left shocked and delighted by the man’s act of kindness (Maxine Parker-Gallagher/ SWNS)
Joan Green is one resident to have received the £5 gift (Maxine Parker-Gallagher/ SWNS)

Ms Parker-Gallagher spends 70 percent of the time in a wheelchair and lives in a small close of eight houses.

All home disabled and elderly people live in bungalows.

Having opened the card, she called her friend who lives several doors down to discover if she had received the same thing - and was surprised to hear that she had.

She added: "My friend had seen him come through her gate and he had a little stack of cards and he was going round and popping them all in the letterboxes.

"She'd never seen him before, because we do live in this little community everybody knows everybody and when somebody different comes in to the close everybody notices."

One neighbour recalled that the man seemed to be in his late 20s or early 30s.

Maxine Parker-Gallagher with one of the cards which was gifted (Maxine Parker-Gallagher/ SWNS)

Ms Parker-Gallagher added: "I just think it's amazing and it's such a small thing but it's made everybody smile.

"With everything that's going on with all the death and destruction in the world it's just a glimmer of kindness and hope. I thought it was lovely.

"We have no idea who he is so we can't thank him, but it just proves that there's some lovely, kind people out there."

Joan Green resides in the area and was unable to understand where it had come from when she received the festive card.

The 92-year-old said: "I got hold of it and there was no name on the envelope and I thought 'where's this from' and I opened it and I saw the fiver.

"It was very good of them, whoever thought of it. It helps out a lot with the way it's going with the electricity and gas."

In April 2022, household energy bills skyrocketed to 54 per cent, with many unable to make ends meet.

As bills carry on rising, and cold weather blasts the UK, little acts of kindness can go a long way.

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