Stacey Paton, office manager of OnFarmSafety says she has been overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses and individuals who have contributed to the relief efforts for flood victims around the district.
Stacey, who has been volunteering her time as well as providing practical administration support through her work, says people have been "so very kind and willing to give".
Margaret Vickers, of Rural Women New Zealand, says the group are grateful to everyone who has helped with their relief efforts, providing groceries and fuel as well as physically helping to load, unload and package up all the items.
Stacey, who has been helping co-ordinate the donations, says she and the other volunteers are all grateful to Stratford New World for "being just so generous" when it came to providing grocery items to help the people left isolated by the floods and slips. "Caltex have also been providing fuel, the Stratford Club gave a generous donation, the Koha Shed in Hawera donated items, everyone has been so helpful." Donations have also come in from individuals as well as businesses, along with a lady from Patea who Stacey says turned up with a donation gathered from several Patea based locals and businesses.
"Then there is the Stratford Aero Club who have let us use their club room to store items before they were loaded onto the helicopters, everyone we have come across has been really helpful."
