It’s a truism, but in a time of great adversity, we do see the best of humanity, and there is no better example than in the way our community is rallying behind farmers hit by the drought.
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The big dry is now affecting 100 per cent of our state to varying degrees, and both NSW and federal governments are scrabbling to put together assistance packages.
But rather than just shrug and leave it to the government to sort out, the community is demonstrating an extraordinary degree of willingness to lend a hand.
A sausage sizzle organised by the staff of the Wagga Bunnings store was mobbed all day, with workers saying that some customers were handing over $50 notes as donations for the Buy A Bale campaign.
At the Westside Sandwich Shop, the staff decided they also wanted to do something to help.
They have decided to donate $1 from each egg and bacon roll they sell this month and, by the end of the first morning, already had a healthy pile of coins in their donation bucket.
Owner Lisa Bloomfield said many customers who weren’t up for an egg and bacon roll were still only too happy to toss in a coin.
Pubs in the city are joining the “parma for a farmer” effort and major chains including Woolworths and Coles are getting on board, by offering shoppers the chance to make a donation at the check-out.
That kind of generosity is being replicated at dozens of other businesses around Wagga and thousands around the state.
Campaigns like Buy A Bale – which helps get fodder to desperate farmers – are invaluable, and not only for the assistance they give to drought-affected land owners.
They also give the community a way to help.
Too often, we see images of tragedy and want to help, but simply don’t know how.
But buying a snag sandwich at a sausage sizzle or adding some coins to a donation bucket when you’re grabbing morning tea is easy.
It doesn’t ask donors for huge amounts of money, but the cumulative affect of all those small donations can make a massive difference to ravaged communities.