Donations continue to pour in for Gunnedah shire's drought-affected farmers.
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Gunnedah and District Liquor Accord recently donated $2000 to Rotary 2380's Drought Relief Project, which will be divvied up into $200 amounts and loaded onto Why Leave Town? cards for farming families.
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The cards can be used throughout the Gunnedah shire by the recipients and have the two-fold benefit of aiding local businesses as well. Hundreds of cards were posted out last year.
"As the money comes in, we keep posting out the cards," Rotary 2380's Lauren Robertson said.
"Every little bit counts. It’s not going to change the world but every little bit helps and eases the burden."
Rotary did a bulk mail-out ahead of Christmas and Mrs Robertson said the funds had eased the pressure on families during the festive season, helping them to buy Christmas presents.
Mrs Robertson the cards had been welcomed by the recipients and allowed them to have a "guilt-free spend".
"I have received quite a few thank you cards. The majority of them are so grateful for the thought and so thankful it’s something nice to open in the mail as opposed to a bill," she said.
Rotary 2380 is one of three Gunnedah Rotary clubs distributing funds in the drought in a bid to support farming families and small businesses.
In late 2018, the Rotary Club of Gunnedah West recently received almost $32,000 from Lane Cove's Gold for Gunnedah drought campaign and is determining the best way to use the funds.
Rotary member Bruce Sommerlad said some of the funds was being used to provide vouchers to farming families for use at rural businesses and school students had also received assistance
Mr Sommerlad said the club donated funds to local schools to help with the cost of excursions, uniforms and only necessities.
"We’re just finding the best way to disperse the money," he said.
"We could spend the money in five minutes flat but the drought’s not going to stop in the next week.
"We’re looking at other options to help farmers and help the town."
The Rotary Club of Gunnedah has used funds to help farmers pay their rates.
