A Watford Observer competition winner has donated her prize to charity.

Last week’s Face in the Crowd Alice Nicholson, 34, has donated the £75 worth of vouchers to the foodbank in Croxley Green.

The organisation runs from the Croxley Green Baptist Church in Baldwins Lane and is part of the Rickmansworth Foodbank.

Alice Nicholson, 34, a performing arts teacher, was spotted by a friend in last week’s paper, who passed on the good news.

Alice said: “I am pictured at the Jeremy Corbyn rally the day before the General Election, and his message is for the many, not the few, so I couldn’t ignore that.

“I am lucky that I do not need the vouchers, but there are a lot people that do, and it was luck that it was my face that was circled.

“It was important to me to be there with my children. I was exposed to politics my whole life as my parents were councillors, so it runs deep.

“Already, my five-year-old daughter has strong values. If she sees someone that is homeless, she wants to help.”

Alice has been involved in raising money for the food bank before through work fundraisers.

She said: “100 per cent this should not be happening, that people are relying on food banks, it could be any one of us.

“At the rally Corbyn said that change is happening, and it is, people are fed up with living in a state of fear and dread.”

Coordinator of the Rickmansworth Foodbank Iris Bangs said that the donation was a lovely surprise.

Since opening in November 2012, the organisation has relied on donations to feed on average the 1,100 families that need help each year.

She said: “There are a wide range of people who rely on the donations, young families, middle families and pensioners who find an extra expense which tips them over the edge.

“It’s a misconception that is just people who do not manage. We help those who are self-employed who become unwell and do not receive sick pay or people starting new jobs waiting for wages to come through.

“There are others who have a change to their benefits which can happen for a number of reasons and that means any money they were relying on has stopped.

“People here are very generous because all our donations come from those in the area. It is the community helping to support the community and that is what is wonderful.

“As a Christian, this is practicing Christian love. We are commanded to love each other regardless of our situation and that is what we do.

“When people are relying on our services, they struggle with low self-esteem and it is important that we try to encourage them to be social.”

The Foodbank also help reach out to those in need by providing a Citizen’s Advice representative once a week, running a café, holding a knit and natter and continuing the men in sheds scheme.

For more information visit https://rickmansworth.foodbank.org.uk/.