One of the region's wineries is working to help provide essential items to health services and those in need by taking resources destined for the wine bottle and producing hand sanitiser out of it.
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Calabria Family Wines are producing and distributing essential items to health services and elderly members of the community to help shore up limited supplies of items in the region due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Calabria's sales and marketing manager Andrew Calabria said the winery wanted to help support the local community as much as they could during this time of need.
"It's devastating to see the toll the pandemic has had on the region," Mr Calabria said.
"Especially for those heading to the shops finding it difficult or impossible to purchase the things they need.
"The community has always been there for us, now it's our turn to return the favour."
The winery has diverted resources from their Tawny and Muscat wine production to allow for the production of more than 10,000 litres of liquid hand sanitiser, after the federal Therapeutic Goods Administration relaxed regulations to help urgently increase supply.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian had called on businesses throughout the state to consider looking at ways to re-tool production lines to allow for a higher rate of production for essential items such as hand sanitiser, handwash and soaps.
Along with hand sanitiser, the winery has created 200 care packages containing essential items such as pasta and toilet paper which will be distributed to elderly members of the community.
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Mr Calabria said the winery is aiming to bring more contributors on board so they can expand the service and provide more items to those in need.
"While we're starting with a small base of packages for locals in need, we aim to reach 2000 care packages over the coming month," Mr Calabria said.
"We hope - despite recent events - we can provide a bit of comfort and relief to those who need it most."
The winery is in the process of reaching out to health services and retirement villages to deliver essential items, with plans to also release hand sanitiser to the wider public at a later date.
The care packages are being delivered free of charge to those who are interested, with anyone wishing to receive a package needing to contact the winery by phone, email or by visiting here as well as supplying a valid NSW Seniors Card.
