TWO hundred meals a day are being cooked up at the Port Anglican Soup Kitchen and distributed to families in need across Port Macquarie-Hastings.
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It is a monumental effort by the small team of volunteers who were given a helping hand by Aldi supermarket this week. The store on Hastings River Drive was forced to close because of flooding and donated all of its perishable goods from bread to meat, fruit and vegetables to the soup kitchen.
Co-ordinator Kerri Attenborough-Bourke is overwhelmed by the community's generosity and the outpouring of kindness.
Bags of towels, sheets, clothes, shoes and household items have also been dropped off at the soup kitchen hall with Helping Hands Port Macquarie co-ordinating a donation drive across Port Macquarie, Wauchope and the Camden Haven.
"We've been cooking up a storm here," Kerri said.
The soup kitchen is open Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
"The donation from Aldi has meant we are able to fill our meat freezersand cater meals for the elderly, vulnerable, homeless and families in need. We're here to help anybody who needs it."
Helping Hands is collecting food and supplies for people who have been evacuated in the floods, people who have lost their homes or have been displaced.
If you would like to help out in any way even if it's a few cans of food please check drop off locations on the Helping Hand Facebook page or take directly to evacuation centres.
Helping Hand has six Port Macquarie drop off points, one in Beechwood, two in Lake Cathie, one in Wauchope, two in Bonny Hills, one in Laurieton, one in Kendall and one in West Haven.
Once collected at these points, food and supplies will be delivered to evacuation locations and families in need.
Volunteer Lyndsay Wallace said hundreds of donations a day are flowing in to the drop off points after which items are sorted and distributed to those who need support.
"What we are finding is that bedding and towels and sheets are needed, particularly for people out at Wauchope. At Tele Point and on the North Shore they are boating out food and fuel," she said.
"People are really generous. Clothes and food will be needed especially for those who have been evacuated from their homes."
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