Johnny Vegas delivers food parcels to NHS staff and vulnerable residents of his hometown St Helens after A-list friend Russell Crowe helped his appeal
Johnny Vegas has been delivering food parcels to vulnerable neighbours and NHS staff in his hometown of St Helens.
The comedian, 49, has teamed up with local charities to ensure the needy residents are getting their essentials during the coronavirus lockdown.
The actor was spotted by the Eccleston Arms in the Merseyside town picking up the boxes and carrying them to nearby homes on Friday.
![Charitable: Johnny Vegas was pictured delivering food parcels to vulnerable residents in St Helens on Friday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/28164912-8301247-image-a-84_1588951983190.jpg)
Charitable: Johnny Vegas was pictured delivering food parcels to vulnerable residents in St Helens on Friday
Wearing gloves and a flat cap, the local hero also donned a maroon St Helens rugby league hoodie bearing an NHS badge.
He was also spotted chatting to other charity workers who were wearing masks and gloves to stop the spread of the virus.
The scheme in the area is also being supported by Johnny's unlikely friend, the Hollywood actor Russell Crowe.
![Helping out: The comedian, 49, delivered the food and essentials to both NHS workers and elderly and vulnerable neighbours](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/28164916-8301247-image-a-85_1588952080809.jpg)
Helping out: The comedian, 49, delivered the food and essentials to both NHS workers and elderly and vulnerable neighbours
![Friendly: Vegas was collecting the parcels from the Merseyside pub the Eccleston Arms before delivering them to residents](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/28164940-8301247-image-a-86_1588952299136.jpg)
Friendly: Vegas was collecting the parcels from the Merseyside pub the Eccleston Arms before delivering them to residents
![Neighbourly: Vegas was spotted chatting to another charitable volunteer wearing a mask, gloves and a Union Flag hat for VE Day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/09/01/28164942-8301247-Neighbourly_Vegas_was_spotted_chatting_to_another_charitable_vol-a-25_1588984779754.jpg)
![Heavy work: The comedian was carrying boxes to and from the pub](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/28164938-8301247-image-m-94_1588952833719.jpg)
Neighbourly: Vegas was spotted chatting to another charitable volunteer wearing a mask, gloves and a Union Flag hat for VE Day
![Doing his bit: The funnyman had the heavy boxes hanging from a rope tied around his neck as he ferried the essentials](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/17/28164944-8301247-Doing_his_bit_The_funnyman_had_the_heavy_boxes_hanging_from_a_ro-m-4_1588954581502.jpg)
Doing his bit: The funnyman had the heavy boxes hanging from a rope tied around his neck as he ferried the essentials
![Local hero: Vegas is working with the Steve Prescott Foundation and the Blackbrook rugby league to deliver the goods](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/28164928-8301247-image-a-100_1588953013501.jpg)
Local hero: Vegas is working with the Steve Prescott Foundation and the Blackbrook rugby league to deliver the goods
The Gladiator star shared a video on Twitter relaying a message from Vegas asking for people who need assistance to call a helpline.
It led to many confused Twitter followers wondering how the pair were on personal terms with each other.
Russell said: 'G'day folks, how are you doing? This is a message on behalf of my old mate Johnny Vegas.
![Moment's rest: During a quick break from the heavy lifting, Vegas had a look at his phone while wearing the protective gloves](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/28164932-8301247-image-a-120_1588953480392.jpg)
Moment's rest: During a quick break from the heavy lifting, Vegas had a look at his phone while wearing the protective gloves
![Drop off: The PG Tips funnyman was dropping off the boxes of essentials on the doorsteps of the needy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/09/01/28164930-8301247-Drop_off_The_PG_Tips_funnyman_was_dropping_off_the_boxes_of_esse-a-26_1588984779756.jpg)
![Drop off: The PG Tips funnyman was dropping off the boxes of essentials on the doorsteps of the needy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/28164926-8301247-image-m-107_1588953164524.jpg)
Drop off: The PG Tips funnyman was dropping off the boxes of essentials on the doorsteps of the needy
![Coronavirus etiquette: Vegas was practising good social distancing by knocking on the doors and retreating](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/17/28164918-8301247-image-a-122_1588953714598.jpg)
Coronavirus etiquette: Vegas was practising good social distancing by knocking on the doors and retreating
![Local cause: Wearing gloves and a flat cap, Vegas also wore a maroon St Helens rugby league hoodie bearing an NHS badge](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/28164922-8301247-image-a-116_1588953444525.jpg)
![Local cause: Wearing gloves and a flat cap, Vegas also wore a maroon St Helens rugby league hoodie bearing an NHS badge](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/28164920-8301247-image-m-115_1588953428588.jpg)
Local cause: Wearing gloves and a flat cap, Vegas also wore a maroon St Helens rugby league hoodie bearing an NHS badge
![Local lad: Vegas was born and raised in Merseyside town St Helens, and is desperate to help its residents out during a time of national crisis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/09/01/28164924-8301247-Local_lad_Vegas_was_born_and_raised_in_Merseyside_town_St_Helens-a-27_1588984779809.jpg)
Local lad: Vegas was born and raised in Merseyside town St Helens, and is desperate to help its residents out during a time of national crisis
![Armed with supplies: The Merseyside comedian was delivering a range of essentials including food](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/17/28164910-8301247-image-a-123_1588953800150.jpg)
Armed with supplies: The Merseyside comedian was delivering a range of essentials including food
'If you're in the St Helens area and you're having trouble getting food deliveries from your local supermarket, if you're NHS staff, a key worker, elderly, isolating, vulnerable, call this number - O1744 881881.
'The Steve Prescott Foundation and the Blackbrook rugby league team have set up a delivery service and they can help you out, they can pick up your shopping, they can maybe even pick up your medicine.
'One of the delivery workers is going be Johnny Vegas though, so expect to lose every second or third biscuit."
![Support: Russell Crowe revealed his unlikely friendship with Vegas when he said the comedian will be delivering food and medicine to people in need](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/31/13/26631106-8171741-image-a-19_1585658187757.jpg)
Support: Russell Crowe revealed his unlikely friendship with Vegas when he said the comedian will be delivering food and medicine to people in need
He finished with an impression of Vegas.
The post prompted a wave of responses from fans, with one commenting: 'I'm about 10 minutes from St. Helens right now, I want to meet Johnny Vegas (as long at the PG Tips monkey is with him).'
Referring to Hollywood star Crowe's surprising friendship with Vegas, another added: 'Russell Crowe doing a PSA for Johnny Vegas about food delivery in St Helens UK, will remain one of the best and most surreal #lockdown moments. What a champ!'
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/08/16/26631518-8301247-image-a-83_1588951857664.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/09/01/26631520-8301247-image-a-28_1588984779810.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/09/01/26631514-8301247-image-a-29_1588984779813.jpg)
![Surprised: The post prompted a wave of responses from fans,with many admitting they were taken aback by Crowe's unexpected friendship with Vegas](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/31/13/26631516-8171741-image-a-41_1585658924455.jpg)
Surprised: The post prompted a wave of responses from fans,with many admitting they were taken aback by Crowe's unexpected friendship with Vegas
Evidently on the same page, a third added: 'Since when have Russell Crowe and Johnny Vegas been mates.'
While a fourth quipped: 'If Johnny Vegas is really your mate how come you didn't give him a role in Master and Commander?'
The Steve Prescott Foundation raises funds for the Christie Cancer Hospital, Try Assist Fund & SPF Special Causes Fund.
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