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| Liverpool child, 7, asks Father Christmas for 'a home and food' | Liverpool child, 7, asks Father Christmas for 'a home and food' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A seven-year-old girl has written a letter to Father Christmas asking for a home and food for her family. | A seven-year-old girl has written a letter to Father Christmas asking for a home and food for her family. |
| The letter was left in a Christmas postbox at the L6 Community Centre in Everton, Liverpool. | The letter was left in a Christmas postbox at the L6 Community Centre in Everton, Liverpool. |
| Local councillor Gerard Woodhouse, who opened the letter, said: "It was so upsetting to read." | Local councillor Gerard Woodhouse, who opened the letter, said: "It was so upsetting to read." |
| "I know the children, and it's not right that a seven-year-old child is worrying about Christmas," he said. | "I know the children, and it's not right that a seven-year-old child is worrying about Christmas," he said. |
| The little girl writes: "Dear Father Christmas. Can you help? | The little girl writes: "Dear Father Christmas. Can you help? |
| "Can we have a home for Christmas? Mam wants us to be all together. Can you give us some food and can I have just a nice doll for Christmas? Thank you." | "Can we have a home for Christmas? Mam wants us to be all together. Can you give us some food and can I have just a nice doll for Christmas? Thank you." |
| The letter appeared when the team at the community centre began decorating for the festive season. | The letter appeared when the team at the community centre began decorating for the festive season. |
| They left the postbox in a cafe for visiting children to post their Christmas wishes. | They left the postbox in a cafe for visiting children to post their Christmas wishes. |
| 'So upsetting' | 'So upsetting' |
| Mr Woodhouse said the girl and her siblings currently live with a relative. | |
| The community centre team is trying to help the family and may put them up in a hotel on Christmas Day. | The community centre team is trying to help the family and may put them up in a hotel on Christmas Day. |
| He said the letter did not come as a surprise to him as "there is no-one around to support these children". | He said the letter did not come as a surprise to him as "there is no-one around to support these children". |
| "It's only going to get worse," he said. | "It's only going to get worse," he said. |
| "A few weeks ago we were sitting down with a few of the kids from the centre. One child said, 'I just want to be warm this Christmas'. | "A few weeks ago we were sitting down with a few of the kids from the centre. One child said, 'I just want to be warm this Christmas'. |
| "These kids know their parents have not got the money this year for presents. | "These kids know their parents have not got the money this year for presents. |
| "We are seeing first hand how difficult it is, and it is just so upsetting." | "We are seeing first hand how difficult it is, and it is just so upsetting." |