A mum who lost her job at the start of the coronavirus pandemic has dedicated her time to making sure nobody in her community goes hungry by spending hours every week collecting donations for her local foodbank.
Samantha Jones, who helps run the foodbank in Beddau, was nominated more than 50 times as a WalesOnline Covid Hero due to the work she has done in ensuring her community doesn't go without.
Since March she has been driving round her surrounding villages collecting donations for Beddau foodbank as well as homelessness and women's aid charities.
Samantha, 43, first began her charity work in March after losing her job as a catering supervisor. She says the extra time she is now able to give has meant that helping others has "taken over her life."
As well as encouraging donations through drop-offs and collections the mum-of-two also began a 'tin on a wall' campaign where she would ask Beddau residents to leave a tin or donation on their front wall for Samantha to collect.
"The community has been amazing," said Samantha. "I'm only able to do what I do because of their support."
When Samantha first began helping out at the foodbank she initially thought it would be just for a month or two but now she says she spends most of her time collecting and delivering donations.
"The last few weeks have actually got much busier," she said. "We don't just stick to Beddau – we will help out as far as we can. You know we help out the homeless and women's aid. We give as much as we can."
While the foodbank cannot take monetary donations Samantha says many people will often have online food shops delivered to her home to donate to the foodbank.
"I absolutely love doing it but I only wish we could do more," she said.
"We're open in the community church on a Monday and Friday and anyone can just turn up and get what they need – they don't need to be referred or anything like that in some places.
"If people can't get to us we've been doing deliveries too. As long as we've got it you can have it."
What started out as giving a helping hand has now turned full-time for Samantha.
"It has taken over my life at this point but I just love helping and it keeps my mind occupied.
"It's kept me going since I lost my job and being a catering supervisor in my last job has really helped as I have certain food hygiene levels which means certain foods and things can be given."
Recently WalesOnline has teamed up with Amazon – whose own staff went above and beyond to keep deliveries going through lockdown – to recognise the Covid Heroes in our communities.
We continue to want to hear about the Covid Heroes of your community. All we need you to do is fill in the form below and nominate a person, organisation or group that has made a difference to your life in 2020. Hundreds of people from across Wales have already been nominated, including Samantha.
If you can’t see the survey, click here.
Samantha said she was "gobsmacked" when she heard about the nomination.
"I never thought I would be nominated," she said. "It makes me feel so proud but overwhelmed too.
"I think I have been nominated because I am the one pushing the cause on social media and I am the one out and about but it really is such a great team effort."
One person who nominated Samantha said: "Samantha helps run the local food hub in Beddau but this is only the start because Sam is always putting others before herself, offering to do anything for anybody.
"During Covid she has really stood out. She worked as a volunteer with RCT and currently volunteers for Home-Start. We are all so grateful for Samantha, such a lovely person."
Another person said: "Since the pandemic has started she has been out collecting food for the foodbank in Beddau. She has gone above and beyond to help out all the families that have been struggling."
