Charities in Orange and the Central West will have the opportunity to access 10,000 hampers of food and sanitary items to help farming communities affected by drought in regional NSW.
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Last weekend 5000 hampers of non-perishable food items were packed and this weekend another 5000 hampers with deoderant, shampoo, moisturiser, detergent and other essential items.
They will be distributed by Foodbank NSW and ACT, and CEO Gerry Andersen is calling for charities and clubs in the region to request packages to help people in need.
He said thanks to the State Government’s $630,000 grant earlier this year, shipping was free to all parts of the state and Foodbank wanted to connect with groups in the worst-hit parts of the state.
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While Foodbank works with drought-related charities such as Aussie Helpers, Mr Andersen also wants smaller community organisations to help out.
“We’re happy to take calls from local clubs, Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, RSLs, anyone who has the ability to help people in the community,” he said.
“The food hampers have enough for four to five days of food (for a family of four) … they have pasta, UTC milk, tinned fruit and vegetables, bolognese sauce and more.
“The other hampers have detergent and hygiene products, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and toothbrushes … all that stuff that is essential but often when things get tough they can be overlooked.”
It’s the toughest I’ve seen it in the bush.
- Gerry Andersen
Mr Andersen said all products had been locally sourced where possible.
He also said in his nine years at Foodbank, and even going back to growing up and coming of age on the land in rural Queensland he said this was as bad a drought as he’d seen.
“It’s the toughest I’ve seen it in the bush … it’s as tough as it gets and we want to help out,” he said.
“It’s not just for farmers, it’s also for anyone doing it tough in communities affected by drought.”
Foodbank has supplied 130 million meal equivalents to those in need over 26 years.
The hampers will be packed and ready to ship all over drought-affect parts of NSW from mid-September.
Charities and groups who are interested in helping distribute should contact Foodbank on 9756 3099.
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