Lynne Mowbray|

The Mend and Make Do Crew NSW registered charity at South Grafton have been working overtime putting together care packages for those affected by the recent bushfires in our nearby communities.

The volunteers have just sent off their fifth load of essential items to the communities of Dundarrabin, Rappville and Ewingar.

Care packages and essential items included: Around 150 toiletry kits, 18 sleeping bags, 20 bath towels, underwear and clothes, footwear, groceries, nappies, medical gloves, 20 boxes of laundry powder (94kg in total), pet food, cleaning packages, and makeup sets.

In a message posted on social media on 16 October from Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) co-ordinator Samantha Osbourne to the Mend and Make Do Crew’s president Ursula Tunks, Ms Osbourne thanked the crew and all the volunteers and those who have donated and supported their efforts.

‘The care packages that I have delivered to bushfire impacted communities across our region, have been so appreciated.’

‘It has been a very distressing time and continues to be for many communities and these personalised gifts of practical kindness have meant so much to so many, many families and individuals.’

The Mend and Make Do Crew don’t receive any government assistance and raise all their funds through their op shop sales and through store holder fees at their Saturday markets.

In a joint decision between Grafton Showground Trust committee representative Carole Bryant and The Mend and Make Do Crew president Ursula Tunks, it was decided that every third Saturday of the month the Mend and Make Do Crew market will run as a twilight market from 2pm until 7pm, to enable both stall owners and market goers to attend both markets.

Both of these markets are volunteer operated with all proceeds going to their respective charities.

The money raised from stallholder fees at the Grafton Showground Trust Markets held on Saturday October 19, was donated to the ‘Our 2 Hands’ Fire Aid appeal for the Rappville fire victims.

For more information or to assist these voluntary, not-for-profit organisations contact:

The Grafton Showground office and The Mend and Make Do Crew, at South Grafton.