15 February, 2012

Baking 4 Roma

What a totally amazing week I've had! While horrific flooding has inundated the town I live in for the third year running I have had the pleasure of witnessing a small country town commuity pulling together to help those worst effected by the flood.

My idea of coordinating a Baked Relief effort here in Roma called Baking 4 Roma on Facebook,  took off in a HUGE way and it has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Through the Baking 4 Roma Facebook page my friend Janet and I coordinated a week long effort of baking, sorting and delivering home baked goods.

Volunteers hard at it at the RSL hall on Monday!
 Me in the background telling them all what to do!!

Volunteers packaging baked goodies ready for delivery!

We had men and women making sandwiches, volunteers dropping of individually wrapped baked goods and even more volunteers driving the hot, smelly, muddy streets offering people cleaning their homes and their helpers cold water, a sandwich and some baked goodies. The response from the community has been wonderful. Janet delivered to one gentleman on Wednesday and as she offered him a muffin, he burst into tears. I think the amazing part is that it has simply shown people who were flooded that those of us who were lucky enough to not get water in our homes were doing what we could to help.


At the Lions Den on Wednesday after some serious challenges on Tuesday.
Sponsorship by the Roma Lions club meant we could continue providing
sandwiches as well as water and baked goodies.

On both Thursday and Friday we had enough home baking to send these
9 boxes, bags and eskys to the Mitchell residents!

 
Welcome to Roma, at this point the bridge into town was submerged.


Down the road from my house during the flood and after, this car was
left on the corner of Miscamble and Northern roads - the usual place to
park your car if you are trying to sell it privately. The owner moved it to
higher ground but was not allowed back to move it again as the water
rose even higher.

The heartbreaking job of throwing out ones possessions.
This was the largest pile we saw. Brought tears to my eyes.

Delivering a boot full of food the the Mitchell Retirement Village.

I have had several phone calls from journalists and have decided to tell the Baking 4 Roma story, not for money or recognition of us in particular, but to raise awareness of what a community is capable of when they pull together in times of need. I am so proud to have been part of it all.

Emily xoxo

2 comments:

  1. HI Emily

    We received some of the wonderful sandwiches and baked goods that were delivered to flood workers. Thank you so very much. There are so many people who helped in some way (big and small) that it will be so hard to thank them all, but please know that the small gesture of a sandwich was like being offered a lifeline. Thanks
    Debra

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  2. I'm so glad Debra! I just didn't know how to spread myself so thin to be able to help all my friends and this was how! I'm looking forward to having a cuppa with you soon!
    Em

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