A team of 14 students from Moore College in Sydney teamed up with the locals for a full-on week of getting out into the community.

The aim was to connect with people and that is certainly what happened.

From Scripture lessons and school assemblies with Cecil the puppet making a guest appearance, a men's pub games' night, an Aboriginal forum where Indigenous leaders shared their experience of Jesus, to a ladies' cake decorating night.

Mornings brought coffee and chatting to people waiting for the train at the station. There was door-knocking and letterboxing. The Wednesday evening frontyard service at Coledale drew 120 people. One of the highlights of the week came on Saturday afternoon with the Food, Fodder and Family Fun barbecue.

With the help of Anglican Aid, the church accessed 600 bales of quality fodder. Rod Chiswell, the pastor, personally wrote to 80 farmers who were known to be struggling.

It included an offer to come and pick up some bails and to stop and relax for a while and enjoy the St. Peter's hospitality.

It was only a drop in the bucket, but it was appreciated as a gesture of real care and concern, a chance to enjoy community and know you're not alone. The letters were warmly received. The word spread.

Toscha Malcolm works at the Kootingal Bowling Club. "I had no feed, no nothing," she said. "A gentleman told me about it. Any help like this is bloody fantastic."

Rod was delighted. "This is the rural community connecting with the church community. There is Hope beyond the drought."