But local Rural Financial Councillor Stuart Brummell said demand is so high in the worst drought in decades the money could run out by September, less than a year after distribution began in October 2018.

Mr Brummell has been distributing the cash in credit cards worth $250, later doubled to $500; some cards carry $900 and some farmers can receive two cards.

With conditions intensifying, he expects to distribute more cards to pay for everything from stock feed to farm vehicle tyres, fuel and food, spending the last $6,500 in a handful of weeks.

"The only thing we do say is don't buy alcohol with it," he said.

"But then again for some people that might be what they need at the moment, it might be the perfect drought therapy."

Because he asks farmers to buy locally the cash stays in the Glen Innes economy, sloshing around supermarkets and petrol stations.

It's the first time the nine year veteran, whose service is federally funded, has been allowed to distribute charity. How does he figure out who is eligible?

"Case by case. Each person's situation is completely different, it could depend on health needs," he said, or a farmer might have another source of income.

"Normally these funds would go to people who are unable to access other government assistance programs - (that) would be the main trigger point."

The local Rotary, Quota and the Men's Shed each raised $1000 to donate in order to help, with the central Rotary organisation donating another $10,000, raised through a drought relief drive by Channel Nine.

Lions Club donated another $7,700, with a Kyogle organisation called Over the Range tipping in another $6500.

Rotary member Andrew Campbell got the job of helping administrate the donations; he reckons it is probably a more efficient process than Centrelink or state agriculture bureaucracy.

"I think it is, because they're on the ground and they're more in tune with the people that are in need; once you start making applications and filling in forms you're at the mercy of the bureaucracy," he said.

"I think it's better to hand it out on the ground.

"I think it's a bit different for things like freight subsidies and water subsidies because they really are a province of the state government and so they should be in charge of it.

"But when you're handing out money to people to sort of buy groceries or pay the power bill or something like that, then at the local level I think they have more idea who really needs it."

He hopes that more money will come in to allow assistance to continue once the total is distributed later this year.

Stuart Brummell said it was a sign of the strength of the community.

"I think it just shows the community is all together, that everyone realises there is a need."