RESIDENTS have rallied round to support a charity that is helping lonely and vulnerable people through the pandemic.

Winsford Awareness Forum has donated £750 to the Salvation Army in Weaver Street which offers a lifeline to the local community.

The charity runs foodbanks, check up on people who live alone and offer counselling

Dad-of-two Shaun Kirkpatrick organises a quarterly collection amongst the forum's 2,500 members. Everyone who makes a donation is invited to join his crowdfunding site and nominate a local charity.

The cause which receives the most votes is given the cash.

"We wanted to help the Salvation Army because they have been broken into twice and  money was stolen," said Shaun, 49,

"With the coronavirus pandemic people haven't been able to donate as much as they usually would to the foodbank. 

"The support I have had from local residents has been fantastic.

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"The community decides where the money goes. We have helped out so many different places, we are going to carry on."

Numerous charities in the town have received funding from the group including New Images youth club, GGO Community group, Foodbank, the Salvation Army, Hebden Green Community School and Cotswold House have received donations since Shaun launched the fundraising site two years ago with help from Lynsie Simpson.