A BOY celebrating his sixth birthday with a party returned home to find his house had been burgled – and his presents stolen.
But little Sam Mellor can smile again after strangers who heard about the break-in donated new games.
Offers of help have flooded in from across Sheffield and beyond, after dad Gary shared Sam’s plight on Facebook.
“We thought his sixth birthday would forever be tarnished by the break-in,” said Gary. “But the kindness of others has been uplifting - it has completely changed our perspective.”
Sam was at a play centre while his home on Sicey Avenue, Shiregreen, was ransacked. Among the £700 worth of property taken were his new PlayStation games.
Gary, 37, wrote about the break-in on Facebook, asking for anyone with information to get in touch. He listed all of his son’s missing games and appealed for anyone offered them for sale to contact him.
Hundreds of Facebook users shared his post - and kind-hearted strangers stepped forward to help – including brother and sister Seth and Connie Nuttall, aged seven and six, from Ecclesfield.
A woman turned up at Sam’s home with a new game, and a mum in his school playground donated two more.
Gary, who lives with partner Rachel, said: “People have been so kind – friends of friends of friends who don’t even know us have been getting in touch. It restores your faith in human nature.
“More than 200 people shared my status on Facebook within 24 hours, and many people - some as far away as America - have offered new or spare copies of games to replace the ones Sam lost.
“It’s a heart-warming reminder there is still good in the world.”
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