Hundreds of farmers were delivered truckloads of livestock pellets and support late last week when Operation Drought Relief came to the region.
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The Rapid Relief Team visited Narrabri on Friday, its fourth stop on a mission to help drought-stricken central west and north-west NSW.
Narrabri farmer Frank Flissinger said it was proof "there are people out there that care - not just government people, but real people".
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The operation was run by volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, and included a Farmers Community Connect day.
The day brought together about 400 people for a free barbecue, as well as one-stop access to help from vets, financial counsellors, tax advisors and more.
Described as a "military-like operation", the Rapid Relief Team sourced 400 tonnes of high-fibre pellets and transported them 534km to feed some 10,000 livestock in the greater Narrabri region for a month.
Mr Flissinger said the donation was "a big relief" for him and wife Jenny Flissinger.
"It takes the pressure off, knowing that we're right for another month - and maybe it'll rain after that," he said.
He said the drought had made them "so aware of how vulnerable we are".
"As farmers, we don't like to talk about ourselves and how really tough it is out there," he said.
"It is one of those things where you start to question yourself and wonder, 'How do we keep on going?'
"But then people like the Rapid Relief Team come along, and suddenly we realise there's people out there that believe in us."
RRT chairman Ron Arckoll said the team's trip to support farming families had been "a humble one, and a real eye-opener to the goodness found in the power of community".
"As Christians, it is our nature to help our community and especially those who need a hand - it's been a long and devastating drought, so we hope our small gesture goes some ways to bringing some relief," he said.
Goolhi's Laura and Les Jones travelled about 90 minutes to collect some of the donated feed, and said it would "keep us going for another month or six weeks".
"Without the Rapid Relief team, and organisations like theirs, we couldn't survive ... in this drought," Mrs Jones said.
"We are almost at the brink of having no stock at all; that's a bloody shame.
"But today has been a wonderful day. It gets us out, it gets us away from the farm.
"It's been an absolute joy to come here and have a burger and speak to good people, and that's a good thing.
"Let's get it raining. Please don't forget us farmers."
Carolyn Millet
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
