Hawkesbury's Helping Hands

06/11/2026

❤️ EXTRA HELPING HANDS NEEDED TODAY! ❤️

We're gearing up for another HUGE day of food hampers at Hawkesbury's Helping Hands, and we could really use some extra helping hands!

If you have a few hours to spare today and would like to lend a hand while making a difference in your community, we'd love to have you join us! ❤️

With so much food to move, organise and distribute, every extra pair of hands makes a difference.

A few important things to know:

❤️ Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

❤️ Enclosed shoes are essential.

❤️ Street parking only, please.

❤️ All volunteers will need to sign a waiver before commencing.

⏰ From 9am TODAY – Saturday 7th November.

Whether you can spare a couple of hours or stay a little longer, your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who continues to give their time and energy to help us help others.

We couldn't do what we do without you! ❤️

06/11/2026

IMPORTANT!!

PLEASE READ ENTIRE POST!!
and if sharing the post please ensure you share all the information.

Tomorrow Food Hampers will be FREE again.

❤️ WHEN WE CAN AND IF WE CAN, WE DO ❤️

Please remember, our hampers are here to support people and families who are doing it tough and genuinely need a helping hand. If you need that help, please come along — that is exactly why WE are here.

If you are in a position to make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated. Every contribution helps us continue to do what WE do. HHH is unfunded and volunteer-powered. We still have to keep a roof over our heads, the lights on, our freezers and cool rooms running, our insurances paid and our vans on the road.

We’ll also have some great BOARD SPECIALS available to purchase separately — we managed to get some fantastic deals this week and we’ll let you know what’s available on the day.

Cash or EFTPOS available for Board Specials and donations..

Free Food Hampers
Tomorrow Saturday November 7th 10am –12pm
Unit E, 28 Walker Street, South Windsor

Street parking only please. No driving into or parking in the complex, you will be refused service.

Hampers are available until stocks last.

Hampers may differ trolley to trolley. And we can't guarantee we won't run out of some items.

Please note: You MUST be inside the gate by 12pm. If you are inside the gate by 12pm, you WILL be served.

Our volunteers are onsite well before opening to set everything up, and once everyone has been served there is still a huge pack-down ahead of them. We really appreciate everyone respecting the 12pm gate cut-off. ❤️

With kindness,
HHH Team 🥰

05/11/2026

❤️ 8 PALLETS OUT THE DOOR TODAY! ❤️

Not bad for a last-minute FREE Food Pop-Up!

Today saw another 8 pallets of food make its way out into community, putting a little extra on the table for many individuals and families this week. ❤️

🥫 REGULAR SATURDAY FOOD HAMPERS
Every Saturday | 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

❤️ KEEP AN EYE ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!

We often receive food at very short notice, and when we do, we open our doors and have a last minute food pop up, to it get it out into the community as quickly as possible.

As we head towards Christmas, this will happen more and more frequently, sometimes several days a week throughout the Christmas and New Year period, as many charities are closed.

We may not always have much notice ourselves, so please keep checking our page. It's the only way we can get the word out to everyone quickly!

And, as always, a HUGE thank you to our amazing volunteers!

Whether it's planned weeks in advance or organised at the last minute, you turn up, roll up your sleeves and make it happen.

We simply couldn't do what we do without you! ❤️

04/11/2026

❤️ FREE FOOD POP-UP – TODAY! ❤️

Hawkesbury's Helping Hands will be holding a FREE Food Pop-Up today for individuals and families needing a helping hand.

📅 TODAY – Thursday 5 November
⏰ 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm
📍 Unit E, 28 Walker Street, South Windsor

⏰ IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE

You MUST be inside the gate by 2.30 pm to be served.

Unfortunately, anyone arriving after 2.30 pm will not be able to be served. Thank you for your understanding.

We have a variety of items available, including:

🥭 Mangoes
🥚 Eggs
🍅 Truss Tomatoes
🍞 Bread & Rolls
🥐 Pastries
🥒 Cucumbers
🥬 Swedes
🧅 Boxes of Onion Rings
🍜 Noodles

❤️ Everything is FREE and available only while stocks last.

Donations are always appreciated and help us continue supporting our community, but are certainly not expected.

🚗 IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION

STREET PARKING ONLY.

Please DO NOT drive into the complex. Anyone entering the complex in their vehicle will be refused service.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us keep the area safe and accessible for everyone.

If you or your family could use a helping hand, please come along. ❤️

With Kindness,
Hawkesbury's Helping Hands

04/11/2026

❤️ WE DON'T JUDGE, AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU ❤️

At Hawkesbury's Helping Hands, we don't judge the people who walk through our doors, and neither should anyone else.

Not by the car they drive.
Not by the house they live in.
Not by the clothes they wear.
Not by the phone they carry.
Or by what someone else thinks they should or shouldn't have.

You have absolutely no idea what another person may be going through.

Circumstances change. Jobs are lost. Relationships break down. Illness happens. The rising cost of living is affecting people from all walks of life, including those who may never have imagined needing assistance.

Nobody should have to explain or justify their circumstances to a complete stranger simply because they're seeking help.

Our food hamper distributions and Community Hub are intended to be safe, welcoming spaces, and that extends to how people treat one another.

If you're attending one of our hamper distributions, please remember that everyone around you has their own story. Their circumstances are not yours to question, judge or comment on.

Unkind remarks, assumptions and unsolicited opinions about whether someone deserves assistance have no place at Hawkesbury's Helping Hands.

For some, asking for help takes enormous courage. A careless comment can cause more harm than you may ever realise, and could be the very reason someone doesn't return for the support they need.

For 15 years, we've welcomed people from all walks of life, and that will never change.

We are here to help people, not to judge them.

Kindness costs nothing. Judgement can cost someone far more than you realise.

04/11/2026

❤️ BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY – RECOGNISING THE POWER OF COMMUNITY ❤️

A little overdue in sharing, but certainly no less important.

On 12 August 2026, Hawkesbury's Helping Hands had the privilege of hosting the official launch of “Because It Is Necessary: Recognising Emergent Community-Led Organisations as Peers in Disaster Resilience” at The Hive, our community home in South Windsor.

While it has taken us a little longer than intended to share the photographs and reflect on this special occasion, the importance of the research and the conversations it has generated remains as relevant as ever.

This important research was made possible through the collective efforts of Western Sydney University, the Bushfire & Natural Hazards Research Centre, the NSW Government and the NSW Reconstruction Authority, bringing together research expertise, government support and the lived experiences of community-led organisations to strengthen disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

The research shines a light on something many of us working at the grassroots level have known for a very long time.

Community is often the first to respond and the last to leave.

When disaster strikes, it is often local people, volunteers and community-led organisations who step forward. They know their communities, understand their needs, have established relationships and continue supporting people long after the immediate emergency has passed.

Historically, the knowledge and experiences of community-led organisations have not always been fully understood or reflected in disaster planning and recovery. This research provides an opportunity to build on that understanding and strengthen the way we work together.

For Hawkesbury's Helping Hands, this research holds particular significance, and I am both proud and humbled to be listed as one of its co-authors.

Having our firsthand experiences, knowledge and perspectives recognised alongside those of researchers and other community representatives means a great deal. Our involvement reflects not only our experiences through floods, fires and the challenges that follow, but also the collective efforts of our volunteers and the communities we serve.

It is an acknowledgement that lived experience and grassroots knowledge have an important place alongside academic research when it comes to disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

And to have this research officially launched at The Hive, a place built on community, compassion and the belief that everyone deserves dignity and respect, made the occasion even more meaningful.

The launch brought together researchers, community representatives, emergency services, local government and people who understand the importance of working together.

My heartfelt thanks to Associate Professor Jessica Weir and Dr Willow Forsyth, lead author of the research, for their dedication and commitment to bringing this important work to life.

I would also like to acknowledge my fellow co-authors and the community leaders who generously shared their knowledge, lived experiences and perspectives throughout the research. Each contribution has helped build a greater understanding of the important role community-led organisations play in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

Thank you also to Erin Wilkins for delivering the Welcome to Country, and Sean Haynes, Chair of the Eugowra Flood Recovery Committee, for sharing his community reflections and firsthand experiences following the devastating 2022 floods.

We were honoured to welcome Robyn Preston MP, Mary Lyons-Buckett - Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Danielle Wheeler Councillor Peter Ryan, Councillor Mike Creed and Adam Hall.

We also acknowledge and thank Susan Templeman MP who was unable to attend as she was in Parliament that week and kindly sent her apologies.

A special thank you to our wonderful HHH volunteers for your support and contribution to making the launch such a memorable occasion. Your kindness and dedication are greatly appreciated. ❤️

And to everyone who was able to join us at The Hive, thank you for taking the time to attend, share in the occasion and contribute to the conversations. Your presence and interest in this important research were sincerely appreciated.

It was wonderful to see so many people come together, not simply to acknowledge the research, but to consider the opportunities it presents for the future.

One of the most valuable outcomes of this research is the opportunity to build greater understanding and stronger relationships between community-led organisations, researchers, government and emergency services.

Each brings different knowledge, experiences and perspectives, and there is so much we can learn from one another.

By continuing these conversations and building on the relationships already established, we can work together towards stronger, more connected and resilient communities.

Perhaps one of the most important things we can do is nurture those relationships before the next disaster, rather than waiting until we are in the middle of one.

Different perspectives. Shared purpose.

One reflection I shared during the launch has continued to resonate and is now being used more widely in conversations about community resilience:

“Community isn't built during a disaster — it reveals itself during one.”

For me, those words reflect everything this research seeks to recognise. Strong communities are built through relationships, trust, kindness and people looking out for one another, long before a disaster occurs.

The photographs capture some wonderful moments from the launch, both formal and spontaneous, and the people who helped make it such a meaningful occasion.

For those interested in learning more about the research and why recognising community-led organisations matters, ABC News covered the launch and the experiences of the communities involved.

You can read the article here:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-12/community-organisations-vital-in-disaster-responses/107024174

With Kindness,

Linda Strickland
CEO & Co-Founder, Hawkesbury's Helping Hands
Co-Author, “Because It Is Necessary” ❤️

03/11/2026

❤️ FOOD IS NOT A CHOICE. NOR SHOULD IT BE. ❤️

With today's announcement of the fifth interest rate rise this year, taking the official cash rate to its highest level in 18 years, I cannot help but wonder just how much more financial pressure Australian households can absorb.

Five increases in just nine months.

I understand that inflation needs to be managed and that economic decisions are complex. But behind every decision are people, families and communities who are already struggling to make ends meet.

And I wonder whether we are losing sight of the human cost.

For 15 years, through my work with Hawkesbury's Helping Hands, I have witnessed the impact of financial hardship on people from all walks of life.

But what concerns me now is how much the landscape is changing.

We are seeing more people who are working, raising families, paying mortgages or rent, and doing everything they possibly can to stay afloat.

And it still isn't enough.

The cost of simply existing is becoming unaffordable for so many, and when household budgets can stretch no further, something has to give.

We are seeing parents skipping meals so their children have enough to eat.

Elderly people going days without food because their pension simply doesn't stretch far enough.

People having to choose between buying medication or groceries.

Others sitting in the dark because they cannot afford electricity, or coming to us to wash their clothes, have a hot shower or enjoy a meal.

Think about that for a moment.

In Australia, in 2026, people are going without some of the most basic necessities of life.

No parent should have to go without food to feed their children. No elderly person should be going days without a meal. Nobody should have to sacrifice their health just to survive.

These are not hypothetical situations or statistics in a report. These are real people, with real lives, and these are the circumstances we encounter every day.

Financial hardship doesn't discriminate. It can affect anyone, regardless of their background, employment or circumstances.

And another interest rate increase doesn't just affect those with a mortgage. The financial pressure can flow through to renters, small businesses, employers and ultimately the wider community.

For those already living week to week, there is often nothing left to cut back on.

The consequences extend far beyond an empty pantry.

Food insecurity affects physical health, mental health, relationships, children's wellbeing and people's ability to participate in everyday life.

Imagine the stress of going to bed each night wondering how you are going to feed your family tomorrow.

Or having worked your entire life, only to find yourself in your later years unable to afford enough food.

Nobody should have to live with that uncertainty.

At Hawkesbury's Helping Hands, we have already experienced a significant increase in demand across all our services, and everything we are witnessing tells us that this is only going to continue.

We are preparing for an even greater increase in the weeks and months ahead.

And I know we are not alone.

Across Australia, charities and community organisations are facing growing demand while trying to absorb rising operating costs themselves.

But there is only so much you can stretch a dollar, a volunteer or a service.

How long can we continue to rely on charities and volunteers to meet needs that are becoming increasingly widespread?

We are fortunate to live in Australia, a country with opportunities and resources that so many people around the world can only dream of.

But surely that makes it even more concerning that so many people here are struggling to meet their most basic needs.

We can acknowledge how fortunate we are while also recognising that we need to do better.

I don't pretend to have any answers, and I understand there are no simple solutions.

But I do know what I see, what I hear and what people share with me every day.

And I am deeply concerned about where we are heading.

Because behind every interest rate announcement, every cost-of-living increase and every economic statistic are people whose lives are being affected.

People who never imagined they would find themselves needing assistance just to put food on the table.

Food is not a luxury. It is not a privilege. It is one of the most basic necessities of life.

Nobody should have to choose between food, medication, electricity or keeping a roof over their head.

Food is not a choice. Nor should it ever have to be.

Linda (with an i) ❤️

03/11/2026

🔥🔥🔥 Hawkesbury Police Area Command NEED YOUR HELP 🔥🔥🔥
Hawkesbury Detectives investigating a fire at Mulgrave are seeking assistance from members of the Community who drove on Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave between 4am and 6am on Monday 2nd November 2026. Anyone with dash camera footage is asked to upload the footage to the link provided. Anyone who has other information or witnessed anything suspicious is encouraged to call Windsor Police Station on 4587 4099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

🔥🔥🔥 WE NEED YOUR HELP 🔥🔥🔥

Hawkesbury Detectives investigating a fire at Mulgrave are seeking assistance from members of the Community who drove on Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave between 4am and 6am on Monday 2nd November 2026. Anyone with dash camera footage is asked to upload the footage to the link provided. Anyone who has other information or witnessed anything suspicious is encouraged to call Windsor Police Station on 4587 4099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

https://nswpf.au.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/mulgravefire

02/11/2026

💔🐾

There are simply no words to express the sadness felt following the devastating fire at Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter early this morning, and the tragic loss of cats and kittens who were simply waiting for the chance to find their forever homes.

Our thoughts are with the shelter staff, volunteers and everyone involved in caring for these beautiful animals. We can only imagine how difficult and emotional today must be for you all.

We are grateful to the firefighters and emergency services who responded, and relieved to hear that the other animals are safe.

To those precious little lives lost, you mattered, you were loved, and you deserved so much more. 🐾❤️

From all of us at Hawkesbury's Helping Hands, we send our heartfelt condolences and support to everyone affected by this tragedy.

Our community is thinking of you. ❤️🐾

ANIMAL SHELTER UPDATE AS OF 2:10PM - MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2026

The Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday 3 November. Thank you to the community for your support and concern, currently we unable to accept donations we will let the community know if and when the situation changes.

We will keep the community informed and provide further updates as they become available.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

STATEMENT FROM HAWKESBURY CITY COUNCIL - 9AM MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2026

ANIMAL SHELTER CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

Early this morning a fire has started at Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter. The fire has now been extinguished however the shelter will be closed to the public today to allow firefighters to complete their internal assessment.

The shelter has extensive damage to the administration area. Staff are currently making an assessment of the facility with animal welfare the priority.

We are deeply saddened to inform the community that some cats and kittens were lost during the fire, all other animals are okay.

We ask the community not to visit the shelter at this time. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available. Friends of Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter