A homeless mum with just 14p to her name will be able to put a deposit down for a new home after more than £30,000 was raised for her in less than 24 hours.
The bid to help Rachel Finn has been backed by hundreds including pop star Lily Allen after tearfully telling BBC News crews she had just four 2p and six 1p coins to her name.
The 39-year-old was staying in temporary accommodation with her son Bradley when she featured in a report into vulnerable and low-income voters in Grimsby.
Her moving story led to an outpouring of support with a JustGiving page set up to support both her and the Rock Foundation foodbank reaching more than £29,000 in a day before donations were closed.
Pam Hodge, founder of the foodbank, told Grimsby Live that the money raised will provide much needed security to the food bank as it faces mounting demand for its services.
She said: "I really cannot believe how this has all taken off, I have just been manic for the past two days dealing with people wanting to make donations and do their bit to help.
"At the moment, £30,000 has been raised, which will be donated to us and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, so that it can be used to help others.
"We are going to use £2,000 of it to help Rachel get a new house sorted, with a deposit, along with some furniture and white goods.
"We will also be supporting some of the other people who were featured in the BBC report.
"The rest of the money that we receive, will all be used to support the food bank and the hundreds of other people we work with every week.
"We will be able to restock our cupboards and even get some presents for local children and families who are struggling at this time of year, which will hopefully help them out a big bit."
Last month was a record month for the food bank, as more people were seeking their services than ever, many of whom are employed but their wages just do not stretch far enough.
Pam said: "Last month we handed out 1,600 food parcels from our food bank, which works out at around 400 a week.
"The array of people that our needing our support is immense, as we have everything from people struggling on zero hours contracts and universal credit to working professionals who are unable to afford food after paying their bills and asylum seekers.
"We are just hoping now that these donations will be able to make a real difference to the work that we do."
Struggling Rachel told Mirror Online that she has suffered from depression
Rachel had said she was "overwhelmed" with the support received from cplete strangers.
She told Grimsby Live : "I really didn't expect for there to be this sort of reaction to the story, it really has overwhelmed me to the point that I just don't know what to do.
"I am not used to people who I have never met before want to help me, and it will take me a bit of time to get my head around it all and process things.
"If people want to help me though, I ask that it is all done through the Rock Foundation, who are going to help me with food, furniture and housing, and anything after that, they can use to help others and continue the work that they do."
Rachel said: "My depression got really bad and I wasn't getting the help I needed. I didn't get out of the house for three months. I just sat in my bedroom and it just escalated.
"There's a lack of support, getting a doctor's appointment was difficult. You just get passed from pillar to post, from council to crisis team, to doctor.
"And that gets you even more depressed. You keep telling people your situation and repeating yourself, and getting nowhere."
Universal Credit , which was introduced in 2010 by the Tories, has "made it a lot harder", Rachel says.
She said: "They should never have brought it in, it's the worst thing they did. There's that many people struggling on it.
"You are getting paid once a month, if something happens in the middle of the month, you are in trouble. It's harder to budget.
"When it was fortnightly, you didn't struggle so much or worry so much, you can budget for two weeks at a push, but not monthly."
In another cruel blow, Rachel was punished for missing a job seeker's appointment, which she claims she was unaware of because she does not have a phone or an internet connection.
She claims her Universal Credit was sanctioned and a large amount being taken from her payment.
Rachel added: "I'm struggling with myself. I cry a lot, mainly when I'm on my own. But I'm getting there, I've got a lot to focus on, I just don't have the energy to do it."
The mum said her son Bradley, who turns 19 this month, is the only thing she has to live for. He wanted a bicycle for his birthday, but his mum feared she wouldn't make his wish come true.
She added: "As long as my son is eating, I can manage.
"He's a growing boy, he's at college four days a week so my main priority is making sure he's fed, he's happy - and looking for a permanent house."
A DWP spokesperson said: “Jobcentre staff are supporting Rachel and are checking to ensure she is getting everything she is entitled to.
"They have already removed the sanction on her claim and paused any requirements to look for work while she finds more permanent accommodation.”
Strangers who donated to the cause told how they were moved by Rachel's story. Others told of their own struggles on low incomes.
One JustGiving donor wrote: "For Rachel and her son and anyone else it may help. Watching Rachels story broke my heart and as a mom I fully understood her message. Stay strong and keep praying always humanity will always win!"
Another wrote: "Rachel so very sad at what has happened to you and your son. From one who was a single parent to another, hope my small contribution is helpful in some way. Hoping you both have a very peaceful Xmas."
A third added: "Very brave to make public your struggles - hope this helps restore a little faith in humanity."
Hannah Jane Parkinson, a Guardian columnist who set up the JustGiving page, decided to cap the fund at £30,000 so the money could be "distributed quickly and fairly and to the correct people & causes", she tweeted.
She added: "Last update this week on this. Have shut donations. Thanks to you all we raised a whopping £30k! I’ve now spoken to all those in the programme, who will get equal amount. A big chunk will go the food bank & similar local orgs. I’ll be sorting that next wk & will update then."
- If you wish to support Rachel and Bradley, please visit the Just Giving page here .
- If you want to donate to the foodbank, go to the RockFoundation page on the Local Giving website and write what the donation is for in the message. For example write 'furniture for Rachel' or 'bike for Bradley' in the optional message section.
