Mother Christmas Jeanette turns Easter Bunny with egg-cellent appeal to help Northants children in care

As Mother Christmas, she's organised for thousands of presents to be gifted to county children but now Jeanette Walsh, Northamptonshire's own secret Santa, has hatched an idea.

Jeanette Walsh, former social worker and all-round good egg, has turned Easter Bunny in an attempt to bring some spring joy to children who would otherwise go without.

Swapping her famous red suit for fluffy ears, Jeanette collects chocolate eggs every year, but Covid has caused a problem for her usual campaign as many of the large companies that support the Easter egg campaign are working from home.

With more than 5,000 eggs needed to treat the most vulnerable children across Northamptonshire, Jeanette has teamed up with Nandos where she works part-time as a host.

Jeanette said: "Usually churches, schools and businesses collect the eggs for me and I hand them out to the care teams across Northamptonshire, but this year they are not able to support me.

"I won't let Covid stop me from helping those children with the least.

"Nandos are supporting me - I work at the Kettering branch and I love it.

"They have set up a Just Giving page where people can donate money and I will go and buy the eggs for the children.

"I will take them to the staff in Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Northampton and Daventry who look after children - the Leaving Care Team, the Special Guardianship Team - where extended family look after children like aunties and grandparents and the children in need teams.

"There's 5,000 children across Northamptonshire including those living in children's home."

Jeanette went into care a day before her sixth birthday and stayed for 10 years in a children's home - an experience that made her determined to help the children with the least.

She said:"Who doesn't love a chocolate egg?

"Families with not much money might struggle to buy an egg but if we can give an Easter egg they could spend that on a meal. It stops that person from worrying about something else."

Her collection of Easter eggs has already been boosted by a £220 donation by Shoosmiths law firm in Northampton and by a trolley load of goodies from Asda Rushden.

Not content with collecting Easter eggs and Christmas presents, last year children's champion Jeanette was named as a 'Lockdown Legend' by Nandos for her 'amazing work' and another gong is on its way as she has been awarded a Rose of Northamptonshire Award.

The award recognises and celebrates the contributions of those who live or work in Northamptonshire to the county’s response to the pandemic.

Set up by The Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, The High Sheriff of Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire County Council the scheme highlights ‘Unsung Heroes of Northamptonshire’.

Jeanette will receive her Rose of Northamptonshire Award in a Zoom ceremony next week when her hard work and determination to help others will be recognised.

Click here to help Jeanette and her Nandos colleagues by donating to the Crowdfunding fundraising page or email [email protected].