That's how cafe owner Kate Jones explains why she has begun handing out boxes of food, which she calls care boxes, to people in need in Orange.

Each week Mrs Jones, the owner of the Kate Jones at One Nineteen cafe, and staff compile the boxes of food from various sources to give to people needing help through the coronavirus pandemic.

She said while her Moulder Street cafe was closed during the lockdown she saw a similar program in Newcastle.

"[I thought] that sounds a great idea. We need to do that in Orange," she said.

Mrs Jones said the boxes were handed out each Friday to people who came to the store and asked her about them.

She said she received milk at cost price from the The Little Big Dairy Co, free bread from the Akehurst Bakery and free bacon from Country Prime Meats which went in the baskets.

Mrs Jones said cafe customers had also pitched in with donations to help out.

"One lady makes jam, she is donating jam each week," she said.

Others had given cash to buy produce while the cafe added items as well.

"It's been well-received. It takes a lot of guts to come in," she said.

"It's designed [to help] people who are doing it a bit tough."