Sunderland youngster who has collected more than 400 Christmas toys for less privileged children

‘She wanted to collect 1,000 but we talked her into 500!’

Sunderland youngster Daisy-May Knight is on a mission to fill Christmas with love for needy children.

Daisy-May Knight with just a small section of the 400-plus gifts she has collected for less privileged children this Christmas. | ugc

placeholder image — Daisy-May Knight with just a small section of the 400-plus gifts she has collected for less privileged children this Christmas. | ugc

The 9-year-old who goes to Burnside Academy has spent all of 2026 collecting toys so she can give them to Love, Amelia - a cause which supports under privileged youngsters across the city and the North East.

She has collected so many that they are ‘taking over the house’, said mum Kirsty Knight. “She has 416 so far and she wants to reach 500.”

If Daisy-May had her way, there would have been even more. Kirsty added: “At the start of the year, she wanted to have a target of 1,000 but we talked her into 500!”

Now the family’s home is filled with games, unicorns, toys, science kits and even a pottery wheel. There are dolls, building blocks, headphones, bags, dominoes, books and more - and they are all gifts from businesses and groups which she persuaded to make a donation.

Daisy-May Knight pictured with around half of the gifts she has collected, to give to the Love, Amelia cause. | ugc

If that was not enough, she is also supporting an appeal called Tub2Pub where people collect empty sweet tubs and take them to a Greene King pub where they can be recycled.

Daisy-May’s support for others still does not end there either. She also runs a club which meets once a month and is aimed at youngsters who have lost a brother or sister - just like she has.

Daisy-May’s mum Kirsty founded the 4Louis group following the heart breaking loss of her son. Louis was born stillborn in December 2009 and Kirsty was inspired to create the charity in his memory.

4Louis helps families across the country from its base in Pallion | Sunderland Echo

Her daughter is following her mum’s inspiration and super proud Kirsty said: “She definitely takes after her mum. She has been brought up around the 4Louis cause but she also set up her own little group for children who have lost siblings. It meets once a month at Fence Houses Community Centre.”

Kirsty explained why Daisy-May is so determined to help others.

“She is very aware of children in hardship. She is aware of how lucky she is to get the Christmas experience.”

Daisy-May’s 500 gifts will go to the Love, Amelia project on Wearside to help bring some Christmas joy to local children. There is still time for more people to make a donation.

Drop off points include;

4Louis unit 36B Pallion trading estate

Deal Direct Blinds Unit 4 Saltmeadows Rd, Gateshead NE8 3AH

Or alternatively, Kirsty can collect locally if people email [email protected]