UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 9.20AM
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Hunter Area Plumbing is no longer accepting physical donations, as they have exceeded their trailer's limit.
Community support has flowed in for the flood-stricken towns of northern NSW, with Cessnock City residents giving generously to help those in need.
Hunter Area Plumbing owner Dayne Poole will take a trailer-load of donated essential items to the Mullumbimby relief centre on Thursday.
Mr Poole has family in the area, and along with his brother Heath will head up north to help with the clean-up effort.
After hearing that many people in Mullumbimby have lost everything, they decided to take what they can to help the community.
Hunter Area Plumbing put a call-out on social media on Sunday, and Mr Poole said many generous donations have been received - including two people who donated $1000 each to go towards supplies.
Donations - including bottled water; baby formula, nappies and wipes; toiletries and sanitary products; cleaning products and pet food - can be dropped at 3B/373-375 Maitland Road, Cessnock between 7am and 5pm Wednesday.
The Kurri Kurri community has also got behind the flood appeal, with a relief package compiled and sent to Lismore.
Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson and Cessnock councillor Rosa Grine spoke last Wednesday about the situation and agreed to put a call out for support from the community.
Hunter Food Relief Centre reached out to Cr Grine when they heard of the intentions to pull together a package and provided a list of items that were required.
"Kurri people get things done. We care about the community and when we see others in need, we turn up and help," Cr Grine said.
Kurri Kurri Community Centre will hold another collection at 18-24 Brunker Street this Wednesday and Thursday from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
Cleaning products, first aid kits, hand sanitiser, sunscreen, insect repellent, foldable camp beds, butane gas and cookers, torches, towels, socks, shoes and underwear are among the items that can be donated (no clothes or furniture).
The items will be distributed to local churches in Lismore.
READ MORE: Two more die in NSW floods amid deluge
The NSW Government and national non-for-profit GIVIT are working together alongside charities to assess and advise what critical and immediate material support is needed in communities.
Resilience NSW Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said it was critical that people don't take or send unrequested items into storm and flood-impacted areas.
"Every time there is a crisis we see community members standing up to help neighbours and strangers alike," Mr Fitzsimmons said.
"This community spirit is an inspiring and uniquely Australian trait that we want to encourage, but we need people to do it in the manner that will ensure local charities and recovery organisations aren't inundated with donations they don't need.
"The best way people can help communities in times of need is via the official donations channels.
"Our arrangement with GIVIT allows councils, outreach teams, local charities and community groups to tell us exactly what's needed. Then, we work to meet these needs through an online warehouse or by purchasing requested items locally using donated funds."
"We will continue to support communities for as long as it takes them to recover from these storms and floods."
Domino's stores across New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory will donate $1 from every pizza sold on Wednesday, March 9 to GIVIT's Storms and Flooding Appeal.
People can also make financial donations to the Red Cross flood appeal.
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