Caring teenager cooks up treat for elderly neighbour
A THOUGHTFUL teenager baked a selection of cakes for an elderly man who was living without food, gas, or electricity.
Concerned neighbours of the pensioner who hadn’t seen him for a while called police, who found him sitting in his flat, holding a torch.
GMP Middleton posted online: “Following a concern for welfare last night (March 19) two of our response colleagues attended an address in Middleton encountered an elderly gent without any electricity, lighting, heating or food.
“The officers initially helped in getting some emergency heating and lighting and cleaned the gents flat as food had gone rotten during an unexpected period in hospital.
“Officers from the Middleton Neighbourhood Team have followed up their good work, with the generous assistance of Tesco Middleton, Diamond Number 1 Taxis, Middleton and Riverside Housing, and we have managed to stock up his fridge with new food donated by Tesco, ensured he has a community contact should his food supplies dwindle again via Diamond Cars and a substantial amount of gas and electric added to his meter via Riverside Housing.”
When Liliah Mercado, 15, heard about the man, she decided to make a gesture to show him people cared, and baked him a selection of treats.
The Siddal Moor pupil is an accomplished baker who runs her own YouTube channel, Lil’s Kitchen.
Due to social distancing, neighbourhood officers collected the cakes and then took them over to the OAP.
Posting online, GMP Middleton said: “Following on from our post yesterday, Liliah has very kindly baked several cakes for the elderly gentlemen which officers have just delivered on her behalf earlier today.
“On behalf of the gentlemen and all of GMP Middleton thank you so much for your generosity.
“Remember to check in and help the elderly.”
Liliah’s mum, Sarah Haigherty, who lives on Martindale Crescent with Liliah, Liliah’s dad and her five brothers, said: “She is also worried about the homeless people who sit outside the supermarkets, and has emailed the neighbourhood police team to ask if they could take them some pies and cakes she has baked so they aren’t hungry.”