With well over 40 trucks already set to take part in Need For Feed’s ANZAC Day Hay Run into northern NSW, the not-for-profit organisation is on the hunt for donated shipping containers that will be used to construct a semi-permanent depot in Casino, NSW.
“We’re looking for four 40ft containers to be donated or loaned to us so we can create an undercover area to store fodder out of the weather,” said Need For Feed founder, Graham Cockerell.
“The bales needs protecting from the weather because it’s just so damp. The air is really humid because it’s sub-tropical. You just can’t store hay in those conditions. And finding a large shed that’s unused is difficult. Four containers will be enough to get us started.”
The ANZAC Day Hay Run will depart from Victoria at around lunchtime on Friday April 22, arriving at the Narrandera Showground that evening, where more trucks will join the convoy.
There are trucks and drivers from Victoria, NSW, Tasmania, South Australia and even Queensland who will volunteer their time.
For truckies interested in taking part, there’s still time to register.
Most hay deliveries will be made directly onto farms, together with care packs, hampers and food for working dogs, however hay will also need to be stored at the Casino site – with the town chosen as its central to the flood-affected areas.
“We receive plenty of women’s products, but are usually short of men’s care products such as razors, shaving cream, deodorant and work socks. Coffee is another thing that we include in the hampers but are usually short of,” Cockerell said.
To add, Need For Feed is also collecting donations of horse products too including horse feed, lead ropes, halters and rugs.
Along with hay and donated items, the not-for-profit organisation has taken its assistance efforts another step further by launching its own grants program for those who have lost both their homes and their businesses.
Need For Feed has kicked off the pot with $250,000, which it is hoping can be matched by a large corporate business.
“The first part of the criteria for those needing assistance is that they are a small business owner. These grants are for the family run businesses who have lost everything,” explained Cockerell.
“There’s no red tape, we will have someone on the ground to check that applicants meet the criteria for a grant, which will be provided in the form of a voucher, which can be spent at another local business, so it will help other businesses too.”
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