Tattoo artist creates commissions with crayons to help his church's foodbank

Now the 31-year-old from Philadephia, who runs the Sacred Tattoos in Washington Village, is taking requests in return for cash he is donating to his church’s foodbank.

He has already been challenged to draw a parrot, dinosaur and dolphin, with £150 pledged to the Bethany City Church project, which helps keep those most in need stocked with items.

Alex, who lives with wife Amy, 30, and their children Elijah, three, and Zion, one, became a tattoo artist 14 years ago, following his brother, Will, 41, who has his own studio, Supafly Wills Tattooz in Hetton, into the business, after his interest in the skill was sparked while he was still at Grindon Hall School.

He said: “Since I had to stop work, I spent the first three weeks just resting, but then I started getting a bit agitated because I’m usually so busy and used to doing something so I started drawing with the bairn’s crayons.

“I’ve never used them before, but I love the fact you can smudge them and they go on so smooth.

“I shared them on Facebook and started getting requests coming in, so I thought I’d ask if people would buy them and I can raise some money for the church’s foodbank.

“I’ve been given a £10,000 grant to help the business and can afford to spend my time doing something to help others.

“That’s what being a Christian is all about, serving others and follow the heart of God, and we’re living in a crisis and I want to help others and there are some really vulnerable people who need it.

“I’m absolutely overjoyed with the reaction it’s got.”

The Bethany Church Food Bank is one of eight centres across Sunderland run through the Trussell Trust.

More information on the service can be found by visiting https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/sunderland-foodbank/.

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