Food Bank NSW/ACT approached CWA NSW asking for help with the distribution of 4500 food hampers for needy families battling drought. The local branch's Mary Hennessy put up her hand for a share of them, and that was early last week.

The hampers couldn't have arrived at a better time, with the devastation of Friday's fires in Tenterfield township and ongoing in Drake now added to the mix.

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"Ninety (hampers) are about as much as we can handle," Mrs Hennessy said.

While branch members took delivery of the hampers and were on hand, along with helpers, to unload the truck at the Max Butler Bar at Tenterfield Showground, they won't be directly involved in distributing them further or in determining who gets them.

The free hampers will be distributed by the Salvation Army, St Vincent's de Paul, Tenterfield Social Development Committee and the Northern Tablelands Local Land Service. Anyone in need is asked to contact one of these organisations directly.

The hampers include pantry staples like cereal, UHT milk, coffee and tea, canned fruit and vegetables, noodles, sugar, rice, biscuits, spaghetti and pasta sauce.

The Food Bank works with manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers to capture donations made available for a variety of reasons, including products that are out of specification, close to expiry, in incorrect packaging and surplus to requirement.