THEY collect for the farmers who are down to one shower a week, and the ones who tend to feed their struggling stock before themselves.
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They do it for the children who have never seen rain, and the families who can no longer afford to celebrate Christmas because the work has dried up with the soil.
But mostly, Mick and Bianca Judd and "The Little Juddies" say they do it because "someone has got to do something" to help people battling under the heavy burden of the drought.
"At the moment, it feels as though these people are begging for help, and they just don't seem to be getting it," Mrs Judd said. "We recently took 14.5 tonnes of non-perishable foods to Baradine, in north western NSW. The Country Women's Association has set up a 'drought pantry' there which is supporting 138 prime producing farming families in the area.
"A member of the CWA was in tears when we delivered it, because she said that without people doing these things, these farmers would be starving. It's shocking.
"People are really doing it tough. We have had people cry on our shoulder when we've done drop offs in the past. We had a message come through from one of the farmers that we helped in Baradine, and she explained that they have four kids, and haven't had an income now for over three years. They are living on less than $200 a week - and trying to run a farm on that as well."
In the past three years, The Little Juddies have trucked more than 200 tonnes of food and supplies from the Hunter to drought-affected areas in NSW and Queensland. They are now in the process of registering as an official charity. The Judds hope to take one semi-trailer load of food, supplies, and some new toys and Christmas presents back to "wheat and beef country" in Baradine, and another to Bingara, just before Christmas to provide some relief to more than 270 families doing it tough.
"In Bingara, they have been out of water for more than six months now - they have to get water carted from the town when they need to give the animals a drink.
"A lot of these farmers are down to having one shower a week, if that, and a lot of them have little kids that have never seen rain, and who have never really celebrated Christmas, because the families just can't afford to. For this run, we are also asking for brand new toys and gifts as well to give to some littlies for Christmas."
The Little Juddies are asking for donations of 10 or 20 litres of water, in-date non-perishable foods, toiletries, and first aid supplies before November 22. Visit The Little Juddies Facebook page for a full list of requested items and collection points, or drop off donations at their headquarters - Old School Body Works at 14/218 Macquarie Road, Warners Bay.
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