THE founder of a Facebook group to support vulnerable people in Worcester has been named one of the city’s ‘coronavirus heroes'.

Toby Stringer and his partner Lyndsey Cox were given a ‘Coronavirus hero shout out’ for their efforts after creating Plate One Up And Pass It On – a page to supply meals to the vulnerable and single parents who have struggled to get food during the pandemic.

This comes after A-Plan Insurance launched an initiative to help celebrate the unsung heroes in the community.

Mr Stringer, from Norton, said: “It was lovely to be nominated for this award for the work we do with our group.

“It’s a wholehearted team effort from all involved. We have the best group of people ever and no mission seems a problem with these amazing people behind us.

“As a group we have achieved so much. What started out as a simple concept of plate one up and pass it on soon grew way beyond that.

“We currently have over 45 active pairings, these involve a volunteer shopping, collecting prescriptions, popping a cooked meal around or providing a good old chit chat.

“We have distributed hundreds of treats packages all across Worcestershire, covering NHS, care homes, children’s homes, schools, doctors surgeries and so many more.

“These amazing volunteers go above and beyond with what they do proving social care to elderly and vulnerable in their free time.”

The group was formed on March 17 and since then members have bought a nurse a car after hers was damaged from having her catalytic converters stolen while she was working at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Mr Stringer previously told the Worcester News: “We don’t want anyone going hungry. Let’s protect our vulnerable, not from the virus but from starvation.”

A-Plan Insurance posted on Facebook: “Today’s Coronavirus Hero shout out goes to Toby Stringer. We had a number of nominations for Toby for setting up Plate One Up And Pass It On, arranging the making and delivery of scrub bags and masks, food deliveries for NHS staff and vulnerable people and so much more. Behind the scenes, Lyndsey Cox helps by pairing volunteers to vulnerable people, communicating with different agencies, coordinating the collections, deliveries and much more.”

To nominate your local hero, email coronavirusheroes@aplan.co.uk or share your stories on the A-Plan Insurance Facebook or Twitter accounts.

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