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A mum-of-two has been named a 'lockdown hero' finalist, after she decided to live and breathe the 'support local' mantra through mask-making, charity donations, small biz support and many other random acts of kindness.
The TMF Lockdown Hero Awards were launched by TMF Group in partnership with Bailiwick Express to say thank you to the heroes of the health crisis and celebrate the many local acts of kindness that have kept the island going at a difficult time.
Nominations have flooded in since the awards were launched, and now a panel has whittled all the stories of “ordinary people during extraordinary things” down to a shortlist of just three entries.
Express will be sharing their stories each day before the public gets to decide which of the three shortlisted heroes should win the top £500 cash prize.
The third and last finalist is Eliana Zammataro-Cowsill, who has spent lockdown raising funds for local charities, supporting local businesses and sharing random acts of kindness with her family, friends and the local community...
Pictured: Eliana is the third finalist in the TMF Lockdown Heroes.
She was nominated by her sister, Alessia Zammataro, who says she is an inspirational person.
Not only is she a working mother of two young children aged five and three, but she has "given so much of her time to help others and put a smile on their face during this time,” Alessia said.
Listing the reasons why she thinks Eliana is a ‘lockdown hero’, Alessia said she had donated a month of her own wages to a local charity, arguing they needed it more than her.
Pictured: Eliana sewed over 250 masks and raised £950 which she donated to Caring Cooks.
Eliana also sewed over 250 masks and raised £950.
She then donated that money to Caring Cooks, who expanded their weekly meal service during lockdown to support islanders in need of food.
The young mum also volunteered to help vulnerable islanders in Trinity during lockdown and bought essentials for the elderly.
Pictured: Eliana sent hampers of healthy goodies to family and friends.
But that’s not all, Alessia said. Eliana bought hampers of healthy goodies for people in lockdown as well as several vouchers to give to her family and friends so that they would have “a pick me up or a reason to smile”.
“She bought them from local businesses to help them and give someone a treat,” Alessia said.
“She’s also bought prints from a small online Jersey business and gave them to all the family. The prints had a photo of a rainbow with the quote 'all in this together' to remind us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we would be reunited soon.”
Pictured: Eliana's children created cards for the older member of 'Generations'.
Eliana also got her children involved, helping them create cards to send to the older member of 'Generations' - a group in Jersey that brings together the eldest and youngest members of its congregations.
“She is the best mum to her two children constantly thinking of new ways to keep them entertained whilst learning,” Alessia said. “She is also doing her own work once the kids have gone to bed and at the weekend.”
Alessia said she was very proud of and inspired by her sister, describing her as “a great role model.”
Pictured: "She is the best mum to her two children constantly thinking of new ways to keep them entertained whilst learning,” Alessia said.
“She is really kind-hearted and she has done an awful lot,” Alessia said. “She has always been thinking about people. She always goes out of her own way to help people and always think of new things. She had more time to do it during lockdown, so it made her shine even more.”
While Alessia felt Eliana was definitely a lockdown hero, she was shocked to hear she had been shortlisted as “so many people have been lots of things”.
“I think she deserves the recognition,” Alessia said. “She does not realise how much she does or how kind she is and how people feel when she does it.”
Pictured: Michaela Harrison-Gray, Director, Head of Trusts and Corporate at TMF Jersey.
Michaela Harrison-Gray, Director, Head of Trusts and Corporate at TMF Jersey, said: “All of those nominated stepped up to help others in their community during this challenging and often distressing period. There were many examples of kindness, selflessness and innovation, with ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help those in need or keep people’s spirits up."
Michaela added: “TMF Group are delighted to have supported this initiative. It’s great to be able to recognise and thank those islanders that made others’ lives easier during this difficult time.”
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