A SOUTHAMPTON-based charity has donated £15K worth of food and drink to NHS workers "working their socks off to save lives".

The League of Friends raises money to support University Hospital Southampton.

It runs a shop at the hospital, two coffee bars and also runs a trolley service for patients and staff with all its profits going back to the hospital

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the charity shop and all its other operations have had to shut down.

But to helps NHS staff in the fight against COVID-19 and the League has given away an estimated £15k worth of stock.

Donations include sandwiches, wraps, samosas, flapjacks, crisps, biscuits, sweets, drinks and tea as well as toiletries.

According to Chairman, Richard Greene the Southampton branch has raised around £1.5m over the past 15-years.

The hospital and its wards can ask the League for funds which have been used to pay for anything from flowers and chairs to X-ray machines and blood scanners.

Richard, 74, and from Sholing says there are 100 volunteers at the hospital, "everybody is welcome" to help and most are retired.

He said: "I have a lot of respect for the NHS workers.

"They are working their socks off saving lives.

"We gave the stock to the staff as some of it would have gone off and they can now help themselves to the shop.

The pensioner who volunteers four days-a-week added: "Volunteering gives me a reason to get up in the morning.

"The volunteers are a really nice bunch of people and work very hard.

"Most of the people who help have been in hospital themselves."

For more information about the League of Friends call 02381206314 or email Noreen.Purvis@uhs.nhs.uk