Cessnock homelessness support service Hunter Hands of Hope has closed until further notice in response to the COVID-19 protection measures.
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The volunteer-run charity served food to homeless and vulnerable people from a cottage at the Cessnock tennis courts five nights a week.
Hunter Hands of Hope president Melissa Gontier said it was a heartbreaking decision to close the service, which serves up to 40 people a night.
"Our volunteers are health workers and teachers; we need to protect ourselves, our clients and the people we work with - social distancing is what we ultimately had to take into consideration," she said.
"Our clients are devastated, and we are devastated that we can not continue to provide our much-needed service in Cessnock.
"We will be back as soon as we can."
