KATIE Henderson has risen to the challenge during the pandemic.

Alongside fellow volunteers, she started a social media initiative called Colchester Community Mask/Face Covering Tree.

It began when inspiring teachers started making hundreds of face coverings, last March.

At the start of the nationwide lockdown, staff at the Stanway School, in Colchester, gave up their time to make scrub bags and ear savers for key workers and they called themselves the Not So Secret Sewing Society.

Across the first six weeks, the hardworking team, spearheaded by Katie and Melissa Newman, produced more than 250 scrub bags, over 180 ear savers and headbands and in excess of 400 masks.

Following the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions, the need for the society waned.

However, is has led to a new initiative providing people with handmade masks, made from donated fabrics, for a small donation.

They are pinned on trees - sometimes pop-up trees in different places - so members of the public can access them.

A small donation can be made at the tree and that money is used to benefit the Colchester community.

Melissa made contact and said: “Katie has co-ordinated a group of volunteers, raising over £40,000, which equates to over 20,000 masks.

“This huge total has been donated to various grassroots charities.

“Her incredible positivity, drive and enthusiasm for the community is awe-inspiring.

“She is an inspiration and I’d like to thank you for being a super hero.”

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* Do you know someone who has gone the extra mile during the pandemic?

From collecting shopping and donations to running errands and raising money, the challenges of the past year have brought the best out in certain people.

Individuals, groups and, of course, our key workers have gone out of their way to help others, often selflessly donating their time and energy to support friends and neighbours. There are real heroes out there and we don’t want their good deeds to go unnoticed.

In fact, we want to reward them by shining the spotlight on their acts of kindness.

First, we need your help.

Drop us a line using the link below and tell us who you’re nominating as a community champion.

They might be a hard-working key worker - a nurse, doctor or shop worker.

Maybe you want to thank the delivery drivers, rubbish collectors, teachers, police and firefighters who have kept things running during these challenging times.

Or maybe you would like to flag up the efforts of someone who has done something special within your community - an act of kindness that has helped you or others and spread some cheer and goodwill.

Give us their name and tell us what they’ve done to help, support and inspire you and others.

Describe what makes them special and we’ll showcase their wonderful efforts in our print and online editions.

If you have a picture, even better.

Send some details to matt.plummer@newsquest.co.uk or by filling in our special form below.