Seven-year-old superhero

He’s only 7, isn’t green or super strong and can’t fly.

But Lincoln McWatt of Plimmerton is a superhero and his rare power is caring.

The miniature philanthropist has been helping charities since he was 4, and last year he started a blog, Caring is my Super Power, to document it.

‘‘When I hear about sad things happening or people being hurt I want to help,’’ he said.

His latest cause, Wellington’s Sisters of Compassion soup kitchen, joins a growing list of good deeds.

It includes buying lunch for people on the street, a gift basket for a boy who lost his sister to cancer, Hairy Maclary books, backpacks and school supplies for children affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, and collections for the Red Cross and Child Cancer Foundation.

‘‘I’m going to do heaps more. I’ve got about 10 [charities] on my list.’’

The big-hearted boy chose the Soup Kitchen because he wanted to help homeless people.

He made crafts to sell at markets and did odd jobs to raise $160, which he spent on groceries to drop at the Soup Kitchen last week.

‘‘ I felt really good when dropped it all off.’’

Sister Josefa Tikoisolomones, of Sisters of Compassion, said she was expecting someone older.

‘‘It is very heartwarming that someone this young has started to think about what he can do to help people and make a difference for people living on the street,’’ she said.

Along with market stalls and bucket collections, Lincoln has picked up rubbish off the beach, cleaned cars, written a book, painted artwork, planted a garden, looked after animals, fixed books and even modelled for a photo shoot to raise pocket money for his giving.

Saving the world $1 at a time takes a lot of energy, but he still has time for his other loves – Lego, spending time with his family and, of course, superheroes.

‘‘ My favourite is the Hulk because he is strong.’’

When it comes to how many followers his blog has, Lincoln is optimistic.

‘‘I think maybe 4000 or something,’’ he said before his mother

Ipiped in that they weren’t actually sure how many it had. ‘‘We’ve kept it quite quiet just because it’s been for him and friends who support him regularly,’’ she said.

‘‘There is some work to it, but it’s worth it. It’s like any passion he could have – we would support it, but it just so happens that this is his passion and that’s OK.’’

Lincoln’s mother, Tessa McTaylor, said Lincoln, a pupil in the Montessori class at Tawa School, often worried about people.

‘‘It wasn’t a surprise when he wanted to help because even from very tiny he showed enormous empathy for people.

‘‘ We can’t watch the news because he gets troubled by it, but if we help him see he can do something, it helps with that anxiety.

‘‘We don’t put pressure on him that he needs to continue. This is his thing and if he wants to do it we will support him.’’

This superhero isn’t hanging up his cape any time soon. Lincoln said he was turning his power to Wellington’s Ronald McDonald House next.

‘‘That is as rewarding for him as having money in his pocket,’’ McTaylor said.