Make a Difference PMQ is a not-for-profit charity based in Port Macquarie. Driven by love, respect, hope, and compassion, our mission is to support disadvantaged and marginalised people in our Mid North Coast community. We provide emergency assistance and connect people with social services to restore dignity, pride, and hope. We are locals supporting locals.

Each year, we set fundraising goals to maintain our MAD Van—a vital mode of transport, food, and coffee van. Funds raised from major events and commercial coffee sales support these goals.

• 2020: Delivered food to those sleeping rough in Port Macquarie and provided bushfire relief in Willawarrin.

• 2021: Focused on the van's coffee machine fit-out and maintenance, while continuing our rough sleeper support and flood relief.

• 2022: Expanded our focus to support local victims of domestic violence alongside our ongoing services.

Founded in 2016, Make a Difference PMQ delivers local services to vulnerable community members experiencing hardship, run by a passionate committee of volunteers.

• Project 1: Orange Sky Laundry Van (Maddy): We raised $110,000 in 9 months to secure a mobile laundry van for the Mid North Coast. Operational within our 12-month target, "Maddy" has completed over 1,000 washes, serving Taree, Port Macquarie, and Kempsey.

• Project 2: Mobile Food Van: To complement our laundry service, we raised $60,000 in 2019 (with FRRR support) to buy and fit out a mobile food van with a coffee machine and BBQ. Completed in 2020, it provides free food services in Port Macquarie and has supported disaster recovery during the 2019 bushfires and March floods.

• Project 3: M.A.D Mobile Food Trailer: To address space limits, we launched the inaugural Ride the Wave Festival in June 2021. Combined with ClubGrants and the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, we ordered a mobile food trailer for shifts, disaster recovery, and community events (operational March 2022).

• Project 4: Storage Shed: With our growing fleet, secure storage became essential. While Port Macquarie Anglican Church has kindly hosted us temporarily, grants from FRRR, Suncorp, and Commonwealth Bank have funded a dedicated storage shed. Our next step is securing land to build it.