Fergus Taylor, a regional chaplaincy manager for the Central Coast from Generate Ministries, filled a trailer and headed west last week. He delivered donations from Generate Ministries and Central Coast chaplains of dog food, water, dairy meal, horse pellets, horse feeding blocks and shopping vouchers to school chaplains in Forbes, Parkes, Gilgandra and Coonabarabran.

Heartbreaking suffering
 

"Parts of the NSW Central and North West resemble a desert with schools, communities and families struggling,” Fergus said.

He described students bringing empty water bottles to school and using the school bubbler to fill them up. Students are also feeding their family’s cattle by hand late at night and early in the morning. They are coming to school to sit exams, without even eating breakfast.

Despite the suffering, there is hope

A Gunnedah farmer and his wife who are struggling to grow any crops, and have to hand feed hungry cattle and calves, remind us how important this generosity can be: "It really helps to know people are thinking of us. Thank you so much".
 

"These donations have given us hope that people care."
 

"This is a wonderful thing to do. We are all desperate and struggling with seeing any hope but these donations have brought tears to my eyes, Thank you."

Please pray for folks in the middle of the worst drought in living memory.

The Archbishop of Sydney's Anglican Aid Drought appeal is nearing the $250,000 mark - you can give here.