A GIRL from Prestatyn has donated more than 30 special care packages for Christmas to worthy causes in Wrexham and Colwyn Bay, including “survival blankets” made of crisp packets.

Alyssa Dean, 12, gave 23 to the homelessness charity “Wrexham Homeless – People Helping People”, and roughly 12 to “The Kind Bay Initiative”, based in Colwyn Bay.

The boxes contained a crisp packet blanket, scarf, hat, gloves, socks, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, biscuits, chocolate, sanitiser, lip gloss, puzzle book, pen, and wet wipes.

It takes the total number of care packages made and donated to charities by Alyssa to 330, having started making crisp packet blankets last year.

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Donations, particularly of jackets, jumpers, scarves and rucksacks, have been encouraged, and you can get in touch by contacting Alyssa’s Facebook page.

Her mother, Darlene Fallorina, said: “She was really happy, and sent some to people in Mid Wales, who posted a message of thanks to Alyssa.

“They were given to homeless people there, which made the recipients feel really good. They didn’t realise it was a 12-year-old making all of this!

“She’s still making them because there are a few people asking for them. She hasn’t set a target because if she did, I think she would feel pressure about it.

“She’s done loads in the last few months and in the summer, but of course, everyone wants them at the same time when Christmas comes around.

“A few organisations from England have asked for them, as well, so she’ll try and do as many as she can.”

The idea of a crisp packet blanket stemmed from “The Crisp Packet Project”, which began in England in 2019 and has since seen a sub-group in Prestatyn and Rhyl set up.

Alyssa, who was named Miss Royal UK Pre-Teen in August and International Junior Miss North Wales Pre-Teen in 2021, has raised thousands through taking part in numerous pageants.

Also Prestatyn Carnival Queen in 2020, Alyssa makes the survival blankets by cleaning the crisp packets before ironing them to make them stick together.

Her “Miss Crisptatyn” scarecrow, made out of 100 crisp packets and a dog poo bag dispenser, was crowned the winner of Prestatyn Town Council’s Halloween competition this year.