Brothers In Need extend a hand of kindness to flood-impacted schools

That's the mission of Sydney-based Brothers In Need who travelled to Port Macquarie last week to lift the spirits of small local schools impacted by the March floods.

Brothers In Need is a culturally diverse organisation with volunteers from 40 countries across the world.

Their work includes providing youth, aged and respite support, soup kitchen initiatives and sending teams to regions for crisis support.

The team with the support of Hastings Co-op IGA, presented $500 each in Co-op vouchers to Beechwood, Herons Creek, Telegraph Point, Long Flat, Comboyne, Upper Rollands Plains and Huntingdon Public schools.

A community barbecue followed at Wauchope where more than 100 people gathered to share their experiences and support each other through the flood recovery.

A shared breakfast at Kooloonbung Creek nature reserve, hosted by Brothers In Need volunteers on Saturday (May 29), launched Homelessness Week across Port Macquarie-Hastings.

Managing director of Brothers in Need, Dean Mousad, said they first reached out to the Port Macquarie-Hastings community in 2019 after the bushfires ripped a path of devastation across the region.

The crews came with supplies, support and thousands of dollars in donations for the local community.

"We can see the devastating impacts in this region and we reached out and asked if there was support needed," Mr Mousad said.

"Last year, we helped with the bushfires directly, this year we know a lot of schools were affected by the floods.

"This is a small token from the community in Sydney. We thank you for opening your doors to us. We want to bridge between the different faiths in this beautiful country. It's the Australian thing to do.

"We don't think we are doing anything special. It's just what we do."

Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said small acts of kindness have been the glue keeping flood-affected people connected and supported.

"I have to say I think the communities in the Hastings area think 'what did we do wrong?'. We've had fires, Covid, floods and of course drought which has had a devastating and long-term impact on our community," Mrs Williams said.

"I think what overwhelms us at times is the support we receive in our local community from people who step up to help us through with acts of kindness. It is just amazing.

"When it comes from people outside our community, it is really humbling to think people hundreds of kilometres away from us have stepped up and said we can help you.

"People often think it needs to be hundreds of thousands of dollars that makes a difference, but it is those acts of kindness that really says something to us about humanity and that people are there to support each other.

"Despite the fact you don't really know us, you still did your part."

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