OVER a thousand pounds in small donations have been raised to help Redcar Area Foodbank get through the coronavirus crisis.

Footprints in the Community is a charity dedicated to reducing poverty and isolation in the Redcar area.

The foodbank has been struggling with the impact of the virus, which has seen supermarket shelves emptying and people isolating at home.

The charity is running low on a number of food essentials, and has is having to restrict its voucher limit.

Redcar campaigner Luke Myer, 24, started an online crowdfunder which has captured the attention of dozens of people in the area, including local politicians and the Tees Valley Mayor.

The fund has raised £1,002 in two days, with an average donation of £12.

Luke said: “Our foodbank does fantastic work to help those in desperate need. I was stuck isolating at home and couldn’t help out, so I started raising money. It’s really amazing what our community can do when we all come together. Through so many people chipping in, our town has taken a difficult situation and shown how we can help people in need.”