March 13, 2014
South Burnett residents who’d like to help drought-stricken local farmers are being invited to fill shoeboxes and drop them off to the Wondai Regional Art Gallery.
Gallery curator Elaine Madill said response to the “Farm Aid” concept – which was launched last month – has been very positive.
And the fact it’s had almost zero publicity shows it’s striking a chord with locals.
“The idea behind Farm Aid is that lots of people would like to help our farmers out but don’t know any simple way to do it,” Elaine said.
“So what we’ve suggested is that they fill up a shoebox with some everyday, basic essentials that many farming families are now struggling to afford.
“These can be simple things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, talc, soap, deodorants, shampoos, conditions, lip gloss, combs … all the everyday items we take for granted.”
Filled shoeboxes can then be dropped off at the Wondai Art Gallery from where they’ll be sent out through welfare agencies to local farms.
Elaine said the idea had come up last month when the Murgon Baptist Church began organising its Eat Dirt Drought relief truck convoy to assist farmers in the Longreach area.
The Gallery organised Farm Aid when they heard about Eat Dirt Drought, and the first shoeboxes went out west soon afterwards.
Since that time the South Burnett has also been drought declared so the attention of the campaign has now swung back closer to home.
Apart from the Wondai Regional Art Gallery, the idea of Farm Aid shoeboxes has also been taken up by some local churches as well.
“It doesn’t matter where you drop off your shoebox,” Elaine said.
“It will really help brighten someone’s day.”
Related articles:
