It all started as an idea to help the children in Syria.

When Robyn Whalley saw the news of the recent gas attack in that war zone, all she wanted to do was help.

Since she runs an afterschool programme, she thought her kids could write letters to the children in Syria. Unfortunately, the Red Cross said they have no way of delivering such mail.

Then the news of the flooding in Edgecumbe broke, and Robyn saw there was a way to help out closer to home.

'I told the Red Cross we could do some meals, but they said they had no way of storing them. Baking would be great, though. So I rang a few neighbours and friends who seemed quite enthusiastic.”

Thus, Robyn set about recruiting people from around Omokoroa for baking duties. She also scored some banana boxes from the local supermarket to help transport the goods. Meanwhile, a friend who goes to choir passed the message on at singing practice on Thursday night, bringing yet more bakers on board.

Now, all the finished baking is converging on the Omokoroa Settlers' Hall this afternoon, ready to be shipped out on Monday.

'My husband Kelvin is taking it over to his work tonight, at Omokoroa General Carriers. He'll shrink wrap it on to a pallet so it's ready to go tomorrow.”

She thinks the crisis in our own backyard has really tapped in to a need for people to do something.

'I'm just astounded at how readily people have taken it on. The thing about baking is that it's not a huge thing, but provides moral support. Kelvin and I lost our property in the recession in 2008 and the thing that meant the most to us is the moral support that you get from people, in ways like this.

"Even little things like this give you the energy to carry on.”