SCAS chefs Matt Hayden, Adam Sinclair and Steve Clancy will set off for the Tamworth region on Sunday 30th September with a load of food and supplies bound for drought-stricken farmers.
The idea originated with Matt, who had heard about farmers who were struggling in the Tamworth area.
“It’s just so dry out there. I didn’t have a truck so I couldn’t take hay. I thought this was the next best thing, taking non-perishables,” said Matt, who has been collecting supplies since July.
The community has rallied behind the initiative, donating enough non-perishable items to fill two trailers and two utes.
“We put a poster up in the IONA Café at SCAS and on the school Facebook page to tell people about the idea,” he said. “The response from the school community and the wider community has been really positive.”
“One of the primary school girls has even organised to send some drawings that she and her friends have done for the farmers, so we have about 80 drawings to give to farmers, along with the supplies.”
There are drop off points in Tamworth for shipments of food but Matt and his fellow chefs thought it would be more personal to door knock farms themselves.
“We will be delivering in the Tamworth region, heading an hour north out of Tamworth to Barraba, then door knocking farmers,” Matt said. “Then we’ll work our way back down into Tamworth.”
Matt has kept a running tally of all the items that have been donated which you can read below.
Bottled water ? – 489 bottles
Dog food tins ? – 84 tins
Dog biscuits ? – 142.5kg
Tinned baked beans/spaghetti- 127 tins
Tuna ?- 89 tins
Deodorant – 21 cans
Tinned vegetables/tomatoes ???- 107tins
Toilet rolls ? – 170 rolls
Tooth brushes? – 56 brushes
Tooth paste ? – 28 tubes
Pasta/ rice ?? – 18.25kg
Soups ? – 168 tins
Tea ? – 1487 bags
Coffee ☕️ – 2.8kg
Mouth wash ? – 250ml
Powdered milk ?- 24kg
Long life milk ?- 24L
Bars of soap ? – 61 bars
Cereal ? – 23kg
Shampoo ?- 45 bottles
Dry shampoo ??- 6 tins
Sweet biscuits ? – 10 packets
Pads ?-238
Washing powder ? – 6kg
Tinned fruits ? ? ?- 59 tins
2 minutes noodles ?- 37 packets
Coconut milk/ chicken tonight ? – 22 jars
Pasta sauce ? – 13 jars
Cheat sachets (potato bake, curried snags)?- 26 sachets
Chips/ crackers ? – 38 packets
Cake mixers ? – 12 boxes
Spreads ? – 22 jars
Milo ? – 10 tins
Juice ? – 4L
Liquid stock ?- 3L