{"id":60140,"date":"2014-03-13T21:31:29","date_gmt":"2014-03-13T11:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=60140"},"modified":"2020-12-04T15:55:04","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T05:55:04","slug":"gallery-collects-shoe-boxes-for-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/03\/13\/gallery-collects-shoe-boxes-for-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"Gallery Collects Shoeboxes For Farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Elaine<\/a>
Wondai Art Gallery curator Elaine Madill is collecting shoeboxes full of basic essentials to assist drought-stricken South Burnett farmers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 13, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Gallery curator Elaine Madill said response to the “Farm Aid” concept – which was launched last month – has been very positive.<\/p>\n

And the fact it’s had almost zero publicity shows it’s striking a chord with locals.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“These can be simple things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, talc, soap, deodorants, shampoos, conditions, lip gloss, combs … all the everyday items we take for granted.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Gallery organised Farm Aid when they heard about Eat Dirt Drought, and the first shoeboxes went out west soon afterwards.<\/p>\n

Since that time the South Burnett has also been drought declared so the attention of the campaign has now swung back closer to home.<\/p>\n

Apart from the Wondai Regional Art Gallery, the idea of Farm Aid shoeboxes has also been taken up by some local churches as well.<\/p>\n

“It doesn’t matter where you drop off your shoebox,” Elaine said.<\/p>\n

“It will really help brighten someone’s day.”<\/p>\n

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