Community members from Russell Vale deliver water,food and other supplies for families affected by bushfires.Credit:James Brickwood
Within a couple of days,that post turned into several vehicles'worth of supplies and more than $3000 in gift vouchers being dropped off to Wollondilly council on Sunday.
"It took off … we started off with just a thought,a bubble,and it's just blown into this,"Ms Bufton said,gesturing to about five trailers'worth of food,water and other"survival mode"supplies waiting to be distributed to communities hit by fires.
"This is only a small amount of what we've got. We wanted to get some up here for Christmas. We thought we'd look at survival mode,and then after Christmas we'll look at recovery mode."
Fellow Russell Vale resident Cassandra Walsh helped organise the massive donation and said that along with the trailers and cars full of supplies for the immediate term,there were storage sheds back in Russell Vale with items for donation when supplies became low.
She said people were"just coming in droves",dropping off items at homes and at a local soccer club from 8.30am on Sunday. Children had agreed to give away their Christmas gift vouchers.
"I had people running around Wollongong,Warrawong,Figtree,going to Woolworths,Bunnings,Priceline,local variety stores to collect items,and then today it all came together within three hours."