A charity is appealing for food donations to help keep four-legged bushfire survivors alive.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Need For Feed Disaster Relief is spearheading a campaign to collect and deliver hay and fodder supplies for cattle, horses and other four-legged animals who will return to blackened paddocks.
The charity has been focused on connecting drought-ravaged farmers with hay and is now expanding its operation to help animals affected by the fires in northern NSW.
Fodder donations will be taken to Glen Innes and distributed by the Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
"The fodder we take will be delivered to their depot and distributed to anyone in need in the area, anyone with a grazing animal that is affected by lost fodder due to the fire," Need For Feed Disaster Relief Logistics Coordinator Cassandra McLaren said.
"Anyone who needs the assistance can apply to them. We are getting it up there so it can be distributed in an efficient manner."
Click here to donate fodder.
Rolling fire coverage: what you need to know about the fire emergency
The charity also needs volunteers and drivers with a truck or trailer that can transport the fodder this weekend, as long as it is safe to do so. The charity will pay the meal and fuel costs.
If you can help with that, click here.
Monetary donations are also being taken, which will be used to buy fodder and get it to where it is needed. Click here to donate.
The charity will also take along hampers and toys, which will also be distributed. Some will go to students at St Mary of the Angels in Guyra.
Hampers and toys will also be distributed in Glen Innes.
"It's to support the families because there are two fires burning north-west of Guyra and fires in Glen Innes," she said.
"It's just to take the pressure off some of the families - it'll be up to them to decide if they distribute them to the children now to distract them or whether they leave them until Christmas."
Ms McLaren, a farmer and volunteer firefighter with the NSW Rural Fire Service, has been on standby to respond to fires in the Upper Hunter.
"We are all very apprehensive, you can't move the quantities of stock as a farmer that you've got and by the time you are able to make that decision it's often too late and the fire is in front of you," she said.
"At that time you're looking at your own families life and trying to save yourself."
She urged residents and fellow farmers to stay safe and prepare early.
"With the wind changing direction and the force of where it's going, the message is to not be complacent. There isn't much growth around, but what is there is dry and its combustible and it is going up," she said.
While you're with us, did you know The Mercury is now offering breaking news alerts, bi-weekly email newsletters and more? Keep up-to-date with all the local news - sign up here.