Jason Owen and Doin' It For Rural Aussie Kids to deliver Christmas presents across Orange

After delivering presents to kids across the Central West in 2019, including to one lucky family in Cargo, the entertainer is again preparing to go on a Christmas run across regional NSW in a bid to spread some Christmas cheer to families doing it tougher than most.

Owen hails from Albert, a tiny town about an hour-and-a-half west of Dubbo, and knows what sort of affect the drought can have on farming families.

It's why he kicked off Doin' It For Rural Aussie Kids last year and on the back of that success his charity will again look to deliver Christmas presents to families still crippled by the drought's ongoing impact.

"Just because there's water in dams and feed shooting through, it doesn't mean there's money in the bank yet," Owen said.

"Some of the best crops we've seen in a decade have been lost due to rain ... the poor buggers can't catch a break."

Christmas run nominations opened last week and Owen was hoping to triple the number of presents he and his wife Becy delivered last festive season.

He said while the drought appears to be behind most of the region the arrival of COVID-19 has compounded the difficulties for many farms in 2020.

"You could liken it to a tumbleweed; it's just been one thing after another, building on top of the other," he said.

"But we're hoping to make Christmas time a bit more positive for these families.

"We know money is tight, and spending hundreds of dollars on Christmas presents isn't in the budget, but we want to help.

"I grew up in Albert; my heart and soul is in the bush, no matter where career takes me. I understand the affects of the drought.

"We'll go anywhere we need to go. We were in Cargo last year, and lots of families in those areas need help.

"If you need it, nominate yourself and tell us your story. We'll do our best to get to everyone that nominates."

To nominate, email doinitforruralaussiekids@gmail.com and include; the family's names, ages, address, contact phone number and a brief story.

Owen said the look on the faces of the family was "incredible" when they arrived last year, and he's looking forward to the same Christmas cheer in 2020.

"It means everything. A lot of these kids wouldn't get a Christmas otherwise," he added.

Doin' It For Rural Aussie Kids is also looking at completing grocery runs for families too, "and we'll buy the items in local supermarkets in remote areas to help out their businesses," Owen added.

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