I’m 13 years old and I’ve been dubbed the ‘Irish Easter Bunny’ after delivering more than 2,000 chocolate eggs to sick children in hospitals
- Jasmine Parker, 13, has been carrying out the kind tradition since she was six
- She delivered thousands of sweet treats to poorly children in Northern Ireland
- READ MORE: My mother bought Easter eggs for only one of my daughters and left the other two out
A teenage girl has delivered more than 2,000 eggs to sick children in hospitals over the Easter period – continuing a seven-year tradition she began at only six years old.
Jasmine Parker, 13, has since 2016 personally donated some 4,200 eggs which she collected in her family home with the help of her community.
In the first year, she, along with the help of friends and family, delivered 100 eggs to the Royal Victoria Children’s Hospital in Belfast.
And the good Samaritan’s efforts have more than doubled since, as she has received donations from all over the country.
‘Easter is for everyone,’ she said. ‘Every child should enjoy it. I want to keep doing this every year!’
Jasmine Parker, 13, has since 2016 personally donated some 4,200 eggs which she collected in her family home with the help of her community
Her mother, Maggie Parker, has expressed her pride at Jasmine’s sweet nature.
‘She’s so kind-hearted, and just wants the children to enjoy Easter,’ she said. ‘My house, and my mum’s house were completely covered in eggs. Towers of eggs are all ready to go for Easter.’
‘It’s an amazing thing to achieve at such a young age and just shows her kind heart,’ she added. ‘It means the world to the kids we visit too.’
The sweet gesture kicked off years ago when, while in a supermarket, Jasmine asked Maggie ‘if sick kids would get any eggs’.
That same day, the little girl asked if they could put a call-out for donations on Facebook, so that they could deliver the chocolate delights to poorly children.
Maggie says they were getting people ‘knocking at the door with eggs’ within just ‘hours’. ‘I couldn’t believe it,’ she gushed. ‘There was so much support immediately.’
Her mother, Maggie Parker, has expressed her pride at Jasmine’s sweet nature. Jasmine pictured with nurses
In the first year, she, along with the help of friends and family, delivered 100 eggs to the Royal Victoria Children’s Hospital in Belfast
Jasmine’s parents later took her to the hospital to hand over the eggs – leaving the nurses ‘shocked’.
‘We were sad to not see the kids reactions, but the nurses we’re overjoyed,’ she said.
The following year, in 2017, the family collected over 200 eggs and then 400 in 2018.
They distributed the eggs to both the Royal Victoria’s Children’s Hospital and the Ulster Hospital, both in Belfast.
Maggie said as the campaign continued, more and more people wanted to get involved as her ‘little car couldn’t carry the amount of eggs’.
In 2019, Jasmine’s father Jay offered his white van for transportation after collecting 700 eggs through donations and fundraising – generous well-wishers would post eggs or drop them off at the house.
Her mother, Maggie Parker, has expressed her pride at Jasmine’s sweet nature. The young girl hopes to continue the tradition every year
This year, Jasmine and Maggie have shattered their record once more and gathered more than 2,000 eggs, which they started delivering on Easter morning. Jasmine pictured trying to fit the eggs into a car
The sweet gesture kicked off years ago when, while in a supermarket, Jasmine asked Maggie ‘if sick kids would get any eggs’. Jasmine pictured with nurses
In 2020, their efforts were sadly halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic but they still managed to raise more than £300 for the children’s hospital thanks to a charity raffle. Moreover, they still managed to deliver 200 chocolate eggs.
In 2021, Jasmine, who was crowned Junior Miss Galaxy Ireland, managed to collect and deliver 800 of the Easter treats.
And last year the family kicked things into the next gear as they were determined to beat her record, promoting the endeavours online.
Their efforts paid off and they managed to collect 1,618 Easter eggs- which were delivered to almost every children’s hospital in Northern Ireland, missing just two.
And the good Samaritan’s efforts have more than doubled since 2016, as she has received donations from all over the country
Maggie said as the campaign continued, more and more people wanted to get involved as her ‘little car couldn’t carry the amount of eggs’. Jasmine pictured with nurses
‘It took us a few days, but Jasmine was pumped to get everything delivered,’ Maggie said. ‘Our walls were covered in eggs. Fortunately, my mum was able to keep some eggs in storage for us.
‘Jasmine was overjoyed by her accomplishment. Every cupboard was filled to the brim.’
This year, Jasmine and Maggie have shattered their record once more and gathered more than 2,000 eggs, which they started delivering on Easter morning.
‘We wanted to make sure every child in hospital had an egg this year,’ Maggie said. ‘We’ve got a van, and two cars all ready to make the journeys. I’m so proud of Jasmine, every year she’s still so keen to help. Our very own Irish Easter bunny.’
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