Young Girl Gives Sandwiches and Hope to the Homeless

When 6-year-old Letty Lockhart saw a homeless man with his dog by the side of the road, her heart weighed heavily, thinking of people who go hungry…so she came up with a way to help those in need!

A young girl with a big heart

What is that man doing on the street?” asked 6-year-old Letty Lockhart as her mother drove her to school. She stared at the dog that sat by his side, both looking weary.

Her mother, Brittany, answered honestly. “He’s homeless,” she explained. 

Letty’s little heart sank thinking of people going hungry, and the Spring Hill, Florida, Girl Scout began to wonder if she could help somehow. “I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! What if I made as many as I could and handed them out to those who need them?” she asked herself excitedly.

Determined, she asked her mom to post on social media about what she wanted to do and asked family, friends and the community for donations. She also asked for donations on an Amazon wish list, which, thinking about that man’s dog, included pet supplies.

The response was amazing. Cereal, Liquid I.V. hydration packs, lunch packs, crackers, granola bars and more poured in. Before long, Letty made 62 PB&J sandwiches and amassed 170 pounds of other snacks from the Amazon outpouring.

Elated at the response, Letty donated the items to People Helping People in Hernando County, a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless in their area. Touched by Letty’s giving spirit, they distributed the sandwiches and other donations to those in need in homeless camps they visit once a week. But Letty did personally deliver some PB&J sandwiches to homeless people she saw on the street on her way to school. And their gratitude fueled her desire to help even more. 

The difference the Westside Elementary student was making earned her the Good Deed Award from the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 186 in Brooksville, Florida. On March 24, 2023, they honored Letty with a ceremony, praising her giving heart.

Currently 9 years old and going into the fourth grade, Letty has no plans to stop helping those in need. She now has the help of her sister, Payton, 10, and the two have joined together to make blessings bags for homeless veterans and are taking part in craft shows and donating the earnings back to the community. Their goal is to one day start a nonprofit and branch out to help expecting families, and start a pet wash for the homeless. 

In the meantime, they keep people informed of their work and donations needed on their Facebook page. Interested people can also contact Letty by email at [email protected].

“Letty’s heart is huge!” says Kendra Kenney, executive director of People Helping People in Hernando County, Inc. “Her kindness and passion for helping others is amazing. What she does has helped the homeless and others who are struggling in more ways than one can imagine. We can’t wait to see the adult she becomes!”

Despite all the attention and the award Letty has been given, she remains humble and feels blessed. “Helping the homeless, pets in need and needy families makes me happy,” she says with a smile.

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