Despair as thieves steal trees meant for NSW South Coast bushfire victims

Lifeline Central West is in the process of bringing spring back to the South Coast, where gardens were ravaged by bushfires earlier this year, but someone has stolen a trailer load of donations.

Stephanie Robinson from Lifeline said volunteers had already taken their first trailer load of trees, potting mix, fertiliser and plants down to the area, where bushfire victims had gratefully received the donations.

But when Lifeline volunteers were in the process of doing another drop, someone stole everything they had ready to transport.

Ms Robinson said she and everyone who worked so hard on the project had been gutted by the theft.

"It just makes me really angry," she said.

"When we dropped off the first trailer load (to the people who had lost everything) it was just beautiful to see (their gratitude)."

Ms Robinson said volunteers had the next load of lemon trees, plants, potting mix and other items ready to go until someone decided to help themselves to the lot.

And she said it wasn't a case of someone walking past and helping themselves to one or two plants.

"It all had to be loaded up, it wasn't grab a couple and run," she said. "They would have needed a trailer to transport it."

And what is even worse, the theft appears to have been quite brazen; volunteers were in the building when it happened.

"Everything was there at the beginning of their shift and then it was gone at the end," Ms Robinson said. "We were so upset, these are donations to people who have lost everything."

However, in true Lifeline style, the staff and volunteers are not giving up. They are planning another trip down to the area and are still collecting plants and other items to donate, which will be secured off-site until the next drop-off.

Ms Robinson welcomed and donations of trees, especially lemon trees, shrubs, seedlings, indoor and outdoor plants, potting mix, tools and even Bunnings vouchers.