Fisherman gives away lobsters to poor families at Christmas

'I want to give back to people who are struggling,' says Noah Ames. 'It’s kind of gotten bigger than me'

Picture: (iStock)

A fisherman gave away free lobsters to families in need for Christmas.

Noah Ames, from the US state of Maine, collected hundreds of pounds of lobster, which distributed from his truck in the small town of Thomaston.

A sign next to his vehicle read: "Free lobsters today for families truly in need"

Mr Ames began the tradition in 2013 in an effort to demonstrate to his children that Christmas is about more than “making wish lists”, he told the Portland Press-Herald.

Placing the crustaceans in black plastic bags, he gives most of them away on Christmas Eve, after parking his truck outside his friend’s marine supply shop.

The only thing Mr Ames asks the people who approach him is: "How many?"

He then fills the bags with lobsters.

In his first year, he gave away 100 pounds of lobster that he caught on his boat, No Worries.

However, over the years his personal philanthropy has become a community initiative and other lobstermen and dealers have pitched in lobsters from their stock.

Although he initially refused financial donations, he eventually accepted some for a local family whose young daughter is battling with cancer.

“Some people will have tears in their eyes and can’t really get their arms around giving lobsters away," he told The Portland Press Herald. "I want to give back to people who are struggling. It’s kind of gotten bigger than me. It’s a good thing – and the kids are really into it now.”