‘Lockdown Hero’ became Santa for local children

Friday 25 December 2020

A local hairdresser and ‘Lockdown Hero’ got to “live the dream as Santa” after he collected over 870 toys for local children and distributed them between five local charities.

Dominic Basilio (33) launched his toy drive in October, hoping to raise 500 toys ahead of Christmas, but his target was smashed with the help of generous islanders, including his clients at Le Salon, who donated a total of 872 toys.

“It’s been great,” Dominic said. “I am over the moon. It went so, so good, it was insane. People were really generous, they didn’t give just little toys, we had some amazing toys. 

“People just kept coming in, bringing 10 toys each. It really was incredible, I am so happy with how it went." 

Pictured: In total, Dominic collected 872 toys.

Perhaps Dominic’s ‘Lockdown Hero’ title encouraged islanders to help. Earlier this year, when his salon closed as a result of the corona virus outbreak, Dominic spent 12 weeks volunteering at the Salvation Army’s food bank, using his organisational skills to ensure the charity could meet the huge community demands put on it by the pandemic.

Not only did he help get a system in place for sorting thousands of groceries for struggling families, he went the extra mile by adding a personal touch to each delivery, ranging from colouring books to sweets and puzzles – each adapted to the children’s interests.

His efforts led the manager of the Salvation Army café and charity shop, Ian Houillebecq, to nominate Dominic for the TMF Lockdown Hero Awards praising the selfless commitment of the “incredible” stylist. 

Pictured: Dominic spent 12 weeks volunteering at the Salvation Army's food bank during lockdown.

Dominic went on to win the crown, securing more than 60% of the public vote, and pledged to spend his £500 cash prize on arts and crafts gear for the Salvation Army to distribute to families. 

The toy drive was so successful that it helped Dominic fulfil a four-page wish list sent by Mont à l’Abbé School for its 130 pupils. While he was planning on buying the items himself, he was able to source two thirds of the items required by kids through the donations. 

“I did not think I would get so many toys, so I was planning on buying them myself,” he explained. “They wrote a wish list, and I didn’t think I would just fulfil so many from the toy drive. It was so sweet to read through the kids’ wish lists. I’m really pleased how it worked out.”

The rest of the donated toys have been distributed between local charities, including Causeway shelter, the Jersey Childcare Trust, Brighter Futures and the Women’s Refuge. 

“A donation such as this will have an enduring impact on the 165 families that Brighter Futures currently support, as we continue to be an essential and vital service for the prosperity of our island,” Brighter Futures wrote on its Facebook page.

After living with hundreds of toys in his flat for weeks, Dominic said he was pleased to have more room to himself once more. 

“The pile kept creaking, I was worried it was going to fall,” he joked. “It’s that they are not in my flat anymore.”

The hairdresser, who has always loved Christmas, also enjoyed delivering the toys to the charities. 

“It was nice going round and leaving the toys,” he said. “I was living the dream as Santa with toy bags, it was all fun and happy. Right now, with everything going on it was nice to be able to do that."