"You're sitting around at home wondering what you can go out and do for somebody else," president Anna Swanson said.

"When you're looking after your own wellbeing the best thing is to do something kind for somebody else. It's good for everyone."

The group quickly coined a plan to supplement Slow Food Hunter Valley's fresh food welfare bags with a personal care pack.

They spent about $800 of their own funds last week buying shampoo, toothbrushes, body wash, deodorant, sanitary pads and other hygiene essentials.

The items went into 35 bags and were distributed yesterday along with the welfare bags.

"It was nice to think about supporting someone else, especially at the moment," Ms Swanson said.

"We know how tight money can be at this time and that there are people in the community who need our help.

"Because it was such a quick turnaround, a number of our members went out and sourced key items for the bags and a luxury item here and there. We collated them all and made them into 35 bags."

Ms Swanson said the bags would show the recipient that somebody was thinking of them.

The group will continue to make between 10 and 20 bags each week until lockdown is over.

Some will be targeted at single people while others will cater for families.

Slow Food's Amorelle Dempster thanked the group for joining the initiative.

"They saw it in The Mercury and they have responded. It has been a good community effort and it is bringing people together," Ms Dempster said.

"This whole project is helping people who really need assistance.

"The farmers are doing what they can to help and are donating a lot of produce towards it and some of that is going into the community kitchen and making meals which are complementing some of the welfare bags as well."

Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child, one community at a time.

The Kiwanis East Maitland was officially organized on 21 January 1980, being the first club in the Hunter Valley. That means we have been serving the community of Maitland for more than 40 years.

The club is open to community minded men and women of all ages who have a passion for helping those less fortunate.