In mid-December Maldon will find out who the winners are in community awards that recognise the work of individuals to help and support others during the pandemic crisis.

Each weekday, Maldon Nub News will bring you the stories behind the community heroes and heroines who have been shortlisted for what they did for the people of the district in their hour of need.

There are 10 categories in the Maldon District Recognition of Service Awards, featuring individuals of all ages and backgrounds. The thing they have in common is their dedication to the local community.

The winners in each category will be announced on or after 12 December by leader of Maldon District Council, Councillor Wendy Stamp, with a short video featuring the winners produced.

Today (Wednesday, 25 November) we take a closer look at the stories of those nominated in the 'Neighbourliness' category:

Kay Davey

"Since March I have been reaching out to all residents of Steeple.

"I started a book stall, craft stall for kids and adults, gardening projects, numerous competitions, for example, sunflower growing, colouring, pumpkin carving. I collect prescriptions and shopping and I'm available to chat to anyone at anytime.

"I collect food from Asda and Tesco every week for the local food bank.

"It means a lot to me that all my hard work has been recognised and I can honestly say that giving my time to help people who need it at this extraordinary time is helping me to get through as well."

Kay's Nomination:

"Kay is an inspiration to us all – she lives in Steeple and has created some wonderful ideas to keep the whole village of Steeple safe and happy during lockdown – there is a free craft stall, book stall, plant stall and she does a weekly collection for the Dengie Food Bank – she doorsteps all houses and collects items. She has been collecting shopping and prescriptions."

Linda Haywood

"This year as part of a team we set up the Mayland helpline before the first lockdown. Leaflets with our contact number were dropped through every door in our village and we manned the phones, sorting prescription drop-offs and organising shopping for anyone that was vulnerable and needed to stay at home. We ran this right till the end of August with

the intention to re-open if necessary.

"I also delivered blood to hospitals as part of the Essex voluntary blood service. We got extremely busy this year and I am very proud to have played my part. This is a fantastic team that I joined early last year that supports the NHS and Air ambulance.

"I would like to say a big thank you for this nomination, it really feels nice to be appreciated. I get involved with a lot of things but never expect praise so this was so out of the blue and a lovely surprise."

Linda's Nomination:

"Linda always helps out wherever she can. She is involved with the parish council and local community: planting flowers in the village, organising shopping for anyone that needs it during the pandemic, picking up and delivering prescriptions, doing blood running on her motorbike, keeping us all supplied with essentials from her Avon business, growing veg to supply her neighbours and offering support to anyone she possibly can. She always has a smile to share and is genuinely kind. She makes the village a great place to live! She doesn't do it for recognition or praise, but certainly deserves it!"

Samantha Tyrell

"My name is Samantha Tyrrell. I'm 52 and I work in the local Tesco store. During the day I'm full time aunty to my gorgeous nephew Ronnie. When the pandemic hit and lockdown started I looked around and began to realise that there were so many people at home without any help or support. So I posted notes through neighbours' doors and for anyone I knew who was living alone I offered a shopping service.

"I told them to hang a carrier bag on their door if they needed anything.

"Each day I would collect the bags and head to Morrison's on my son's bike to collect their shopping. Kathy Vale, community champion at Morrison's, was incredible helping me to fulfil their lists each week.

"At this point I realised that there were others putting their lives on the line to help others, and although I can't save lives I wished I could do something to bring a smile to their faces, which is when I decided to start baking.

"Every week I supplied hospitals, nursing homes, doctors' surgeries, fire and rescue stations - and anyone who I felt could do with a thank you, and to bring a smile. My thanks go to all my friends and family who donated the ingredients which helped me keep baking the 2,000+ cupcakes."

Samantha's Nomination:

"This lovely lady has spent so many hours shopping for numerous households in Maldon. She provided delicious treats to various individuals and teams including doctors' surgeries, Broomfield Hospital and a young Maldon family who lost their Dad (aged about 50) to Covid. All this whilst continuing to work at Tesco and look after elderly parents! She is an angel.

Julia Rome

"I got involved very early in the pandemic as I saw a call out from The Salvation Army shop wanting ziplock bags and containers for handing out pasta, etc., from the food bank they were setting up. I am the cook for our local guiding group and we had just had news that our 2020 trip to Essex Jamboree was cancelled due to Covid, so I had a large supply of bags to donate!

"When I was dropping the supplies off, I asked if there was anything else I could do to help. Kevin Jennings asked me if I would like to be the emergency response driver to the CVS helpline as he was the controller. I jumped at the chance to help out and almost immediately started collecting food parcels from the Salvation Army Hall and dropping them off to people in need all over the district. I also started collecting prescriptions for shielding people from almost every pharmacy in the district.

"Occasionally I was sent out to bring back government boxes from households who wanted to donate them to our food bank. On VE day myself and my husband were able to help deliver the special care packages which had been produced for the district.

"When Kevin had to return to work I took on the control of the daily emergencies along with the deliveries and occasionally I went along to the hall to help set out the daily food bags.

"I adopted several households (that had no-one nearby to help out) and needed shopping doing for them. One of these ladies I have continued to help weekly with her shopping and now take her out for coffee and shopping every week. Along with a few of my friends we have renovated her garden and cleaned her guttering, too!

"I spent two days helping set up Braintree Hospital Covid wards when St Peter's patients were all moved there early on and one day I helped to deep clean a closed-down floor of St Peters.

"I really appreciated my own personal good circumstances in the lockdown time and was very happy to be able to help so many people who were not in such a good situation. Everyone was so happy to receive the food parcels and medication and for some it was an opportunity to just say a few words to another human as they were locked down in isolation. I enjoyed getting to know the team from CVS and ministers from the local churches involved in the helpline and hope to help out more with them in the future.

"Being nominated for this award is really touching as I was just happy to be able to help out. It helped my own mental attitude, being able to get out and see people for all those weeks. I didn't take on the job with the expectation of any thanks and being recognised for the work I did is very much appreciated."

Julia's Nomination: "I'd like to nominate my friend Julia. Fromday one of the lockdown she has given hundreds of hours of volunteering time to the community of Maldon ( she volunteers with the CVS / Salvation Army) – picking up people's prescriptions and delivering them as well as shopping for people who were shielding and delivering emergency food parcels."