A kind-hearted woman Carly Carlz Burd, from Harlow, Essex, UK, was left in tears after a vandal destroyed the crops she was growing in her garden to feed people in need due to the cost of living crisis. On April 13, she shared this inhuman deed on social media.
She found her vegetable garden was sabotaged and the soil covered in salt. According to her, it was not a prank, but a pre-planned move, because around five kilograms of salt was scattered on her land. Burd showed footage of the salt-covered ground.
She posted an emotional video about the incident on TikTok, and it went viral and was viewed over 4.8 million times.
According to local news reports, Burd has multiple sclerosis and lupus. She said: "I believe someone trespassed into my garden and poured salt to destroy the effort I put in to help feed people in need."
According to her Facebook page, 'A Meal on Me with Love', the group started on July 14, 2022, where she mentioned that it is for older people and people with low income who find it hard to survive, especially in winter.
"I transformed my garden to provide those on benefits, pensioners on the state pension and those on a low income. They receive a large box that contains essentials plus enough food, fruit, and vegetables for the number of people in the household," Burd said.
So far, she's fed more than 1,600 people amid the cost of living crisis in the UK.
Apparently, this initiative was started in memory of her grandfather Billy, who was a grenadier guard for the Queen of England and a gardener for Edward John Spencer, the Earl of Spencer who was Princess Diana's father.
“I hope you are proud, grandad,” added Burd.
After she shared her heartbreak with TikTok, social media users began pouring in donations, advice, and support. Burd's 'A Meal on Me with Love' fundraiser has been flooded with donations in light of this incident.
People shared their love and support for the woman who was left heartbroken after her farm was sabotaged.
A Facebook user Stephen Farrar commented on her post: "Carly, do you need a greenhouse/grow house or a shed? Happy to donate."
Another user Kathy Boxall wrote: "You are doing a fantastic thing for the community. But don't let the low life get you down. I am with you all the way, and so are many others; the world needs more people like you. You go, girl."
Her GoFundMe campaign has raised over £184,777 (Dh 843,394.15). In addition to the financial support, volunteers helped her remove the salt layer of soil, which covers a large part of the garden.
Burd said in an update that with the help of others, she was able to dig up a lot of the salt and plans to cover it with topsoil to neutralise it.
"I'm absolutely overwhelmed by everyone's comments and everything," she said. "I really do appreciate it — thank you."
