For residents living in the New South Wales village of Murrurundi in the Upper Hunter Valley, three minute showers and a limit of two loads of laundry a week have become the norm.

Sorry, this audio has expired Can we help? Rural aid targets drought stricken Murrurundi

Locals have been living under the highest-level water restrictions for almost a year, with the dam supplying the town's needs having all but dried up.

While an emergency bore has provided some relief, water is being trucked in from neighbouring towns on a daily basis.

To help raise spirits, a volunteer army have this week descended on the rural hamlet, eager to spread some good will.

The Rural Aid initiative has gathered more than 70 people from around the country to complete odd jobs around the town, in local schools and on surrounding farms, that have fallen by the wayside during the drought.

The organisation's general manager, Wayne Thomson, said Murrurundi residents had been doing it tough for a long time.

Rural Aid 'farm army' volunteers build a path at Murrurundi Public School. ( ABC New England: Cecilia Connell )

"We just thought, like lots of communities out there, they needed a bit of a hand so we're here to give them that hug and show them that we're here to care," he said.

"We've got people painting things in the town street here, working on the farms, building chook pens and gardens, a lot of fencing is happening on some farms as well.

"People have come from all over, a lot from Victoria, from Queensland and across NSW. It is as colourful an army as you could imagine."

First-time volunteers join seasoned helpers

A range of volunteers from varied backgrounds have answered the call to help.

Medical science graduate Kirren Pawar, 23, said the project presented an opportunity for the Sydneysider to learn about the drought and its impact on country people first hand.

Sydney resident Kirren Pawar chose to volunteer to better understand the impacts of drought. ( ABC New England: Cecilia Connell )

"When I came here, I just wanted to understand what it's like to be living in a rural community and I wanted to understand better how the drought is affecting our communities rurally.

"Living in Sydney, we don't really know the impact of how bad the drought is," she said.

"We think that it's raining again, so it must be alright everywhere around the state.

"It wasn't until I came to Murrurundi and we had our first introductory talk that they told us, 'Don't be deceived by the greenery you're seeing around, the drought is much bigger and the impact is much greater than what we see'.

"It's things like this that only when you step out of our cities that we learn for ourselves."

In contrast, the reality of living through drought is something Victorian volunteer, Krystal Bourke, is all too familiar with.

Victorian cattle producer Krystal Bourke has travelled interstate to volunteer. ( ABC New England: Cecilia Connell )

The 27-year-old cattle producer has stepped away from her property near Sidonia on the Macedon Ranges, to lend her skills.

"Back in the day, someone would help their neighbour, who would help out the other one. This is doing the same thing," she said.

"I'm from Victoria helping NSW and hopefully, they can do the same and just come and see how their drought's going compared to our drought.

"I can talk to them, cheer them up, give them help if they need, just understand that they're not doing it on their own."

She said emotions from locals had been mixed.

"There's been a lot of tears [and] a lot of kids at the school are very excited."

Overwhelming response from Murrurundi community

Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Wayne Bedggood says the initiative has lifted spirits within the Murrurundi community. ( ABC: Nancy Notzon )

Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Wayne Bedggood said the farm army had provided the boost the town needed.

"Everyone's doing it tough, it's no secret," he said.

"People on the land were the first to be hit and I guess, what we forget is that the people in town, they're hit hard not long after.

"Some of our hospitality businesses are up to 70 per cent in downturn and a lot of these people are looking at alternative sources of income or moving away.

"When you get that general malaise through a town and a community, it hits hard."

"It's uplifting knowing that there are people here volunteering not just their time, they're volunteering good will.

"They've all got different reasons for being here and I couldn't thank them enough."

The farm army will next travel to Trundle in the NSW Central West.