BUSINESSES and community groups in Winchester have come together to support hardworking staff, the vulnerable and the elderly as the nation enters lockdown.

Our NHS has been working tirelessly to support those in need of care the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

And staff at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital gratefully received a donation of 100 pizzas from Pizza Express in Alresford to keep staff going.

One hospital staff member wrote on social media: “What an amazing gesture from Pizza Express Alresford for delivering all this to Winchester hospital today.

“Just wanted to say thank you very much, it has made everyone’s day. Very much appreciated.”

While TK Maxx and Sainsbury’s in Middle Brook Street donated food and other essentials to Trinity Winchester to help the homeless and others who the charity supports.

And Brackenlea Care Home, in Shawford, were overwhelmed to receive food donated from The Bridge Inn, in the village.

It comes as a social media movement has been started by Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) calling for people to showcase what they are doing to support the community and highlighting what they like about the city by #lovewinchester on Twitter and Facebook posts.

Mirroring the movement were supporters of the iconic music venue The Railway Inn who raised thousands of pounds to keep it afloat prior to the government’s announcement on Friday last week that all pubs, clubs and restaurants were forced to close.

The venue started its appeal on March 16 and manager Harry Madden said: “In 24 hours we raised £3,000, it has been absolutely incredible, we have been blown away.

“We have had a lot of comments on our Facebook about people meeting very important people in their lives here, it’s just been heart-warming to read.”

Since the closure the venue has become an outdoor community food bank and neighbourhood outreach programme, with TK Maxx once again stepping in to provide it with donations.

Following the change it has increased its fundraising target to £9,000 and has raised nearly £7,000 thanks to generous supporters.

And the Facebook group Winchester Mutual Aid has gained support with thousands of acts of kindness from strangers helping strangers.

With many families in self-isolation requests of basic food and medicine have been met with overwhelming response from communities across Winchester, with people going the extra mile.

l Has your business offered supported to the vulnerable or elderly, or have you said thank you to the hardworking NHS staff in a unique way? Or been overwhelmed by an act of kindness? then we want to hear about it email sophie.day@hampshirechronicle.co.uk.