A collaboration between government, charity and local community groups is making sure the Riverina community does not go hungry amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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The Rapid Relief Team (RRT), a charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church established to help communities in crisis, has been packaging and delivering eight kilogram boxes of non-perishable foods to families in need.
RRT partnered with the NSW government last month, and through this partnership and collaboration with local organisations in Leeton they have distributed about 400 food boxes.
Deliveries across the Riverina have gone to a long list of towns including Wagga, Griffith, Albury and Deniliquin.
Leeton RRT volunteer Rod Martin said the organisation would usually host barbecues and cater events, but since the coronavirus pandemic they had adapted to the new needs of the community.
"COVID-19 has changed a lot in the way we think, the way we help one another," he said.
Mr Martin said the boxes were initially aimed at assisting families affected by domestic violence and has since been expanded to a variety of community members affected by the pandemic.
"There's a lot of persons that are unemployed, there's the elderly, those in self quarantine, again those that are still suffering from domestic violence," he said.
"We aim to deliver a RRT food box within a 24 hour period where possible."
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Members of the community can call 13 77 88 to ask for a delivery, and community organisation Leeton Connect With Kindness have distributed 60 boxes to community members in need.
Mr Martin said local schools had played a major role in finding those who need assistance, with local teachers, welfare officers and principals going above and beyond to identify vulnerable children and families.
200 boxes have been delivered so far to the Leeton High School.
Mr Martin said it had been a real positive to see different volunteer groups and the government work together to help as many people as they could.
"It's been really rewarding actually, seeing the results and what the community are doing to help one another," he said.
"We're members of the local community and we want to lend a helping hand, at the end of the day mates stand with mates and these boxes have been put together for a very good cause."
