The local group has donated $500 from its own funds to the National Drought Relief Appeal initiated by the Australian Lions Foundation.

All of the money will go towards feed and water for stock; food, clothing and personal items for farmers and their families in need.

“All funds received over this period will be pooled and distributed to districts to administer to those impacted,” the Australian Lions Foundation said.

Members of the public are invited to donate to the appeal that will run until Friday August 31.

Local Lions president Stan Luff said this was an issue close to home.

After reading and hearing stories of farmers putting down livestock and walking away from their farms because of the drought, he decided to take action by giving some of the club’s money.

Mr Luff understands the issue first hand, coming from a family of farmers.

“My family all worked off the land so I truly understand this issue.

“What the average person doesn’t understand is the exorbitant price farmers have to pay for feed without grass, and that’s if they can buy it.”

Mr Luff’s son-in-law is a dairy farmer in Kangaroo Valley and is having to source feed from wherever he can, noting that a tonne of hay has risen from $300 to $550 a tonne.

“They are running out [of feed] Australia-wide,” Mr Luff reinforced.

A previous story in the Yass Tribune reported the NSW government’s Combined Drought Indicator showed that more than 74.8 per cent of the south-east was in drought or at the onset of drought, while the remaining 25.2 per cent was considered borderline.

One of the issues Mr Luff wanted to remind people of is that many farmers don’t have the skills to find alternative work, often leaving school early to support the family business.

The local club had said it would open their arms to farmers in Yass Valley to join for dinner at one of its meetings or could assist in some way financially if necessary.