Clarenville girl, 6, collects diapers and food for infants

While most six-year-olds are busy writing their letters to Santa this time of the year, Renee Woolfrey of Clarenville is busy in her playroom organizing donations to her charity, Bellies and Bottoms.

"We have diapers, wipes, baby food, formula, cereal and baby Mum-Mum [teething biscuits]," said Renee as she pointed to all the items. 

There are over 4,000 diapers, 350 bottles of baby food, 11,700 wipes and many more items for infants piled into the corner in the basement of the family home. 

Teaching empathy

Bellies and Bottoms started three years ago when Danielle Woolfrey, Renee's mother, wanted to teach her daughter the importance of empathy and giving back at Christmas. 

Since then, it has grown into an annual event well beyond Mom's wildest dreams. 

It gives me kind of chilly feelings sometimes to see her, that she's really so dedicated to it.- Danielle Woolfrey

"I find it hard sometimes to talk about, because I get a little bit emotional," said Woolfrey.

"I didn't really think it was going to be anything like this," she said.

"I expected her to be a regular kid who was going to get the new puppy syndrome and it was going to wear off. It gives me kind of chilly feelings sometimes to see her, that she's really so dedicated to it."

The first year, the Woolfreys collected items at their home in Clarenville, with a small collection box outside their door.

The next year, Woolfrey returned to work at Riverside Elementary after maternity leave. She asked the principal if she could have a collection box at the school.
 
"And then it sort of grew from there," she said.

Working hard for more than a month

The charity is now in its fourth year, and Renee Woolfrey has been busy for more than a month making sure people know about it. 

The Grade 1 student helped make posters, asked businesses to host donation drop boxes, and even helped organized a drive during the annual Clarenville Santa Claus parade.

It makes me feel happy because babies are eating again.- Renee Woolfrey

"It's in eight locations, all over Clarenville. And so now [Renee] really gets it, more so than she did the first year," said her mom.

"Even now from a teaching perspective, she can tell me how formula comes. If it comes in millimetres or grams. And she's learning to not be shy, she learning public speaking. She learning so much more than the empathy I thought she was going to get out of it."

"It makes me feel happy because babies are eating again," said Renee. "[I learned] that work is very important." 

All donations will be given to the local food bank and to social workers in the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development to be distributed to families in need.