The appeal is being run by the Community Enterprise Foundation.

Rotary External Relations Director Philip Archer said 99 per cent of NSW was in drought, so too south-east Queensland and parts of Victoria and South Australia.

"This drought has really affected us all with its far-reaching effects. Nobody is immune. We should be in this together.

"Yes, farmers and farming families are doing it tough, and the flow-on effect to other businesses in drought affected communities is huge. Whatever help and financial support we can give, whatever small thing we can do now will help rural communities get back to normality quicker."

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank executive Alexandra Gartmann said with continuing drought conditions across the eastern states, the organisation was committed to supporting both short term and longer-term community sustainability and recovery.

"The viability and prosperity of farming communities is important to the Australian economy and supporting them through the inevitable cycles of agriculture in both challenging and productive times is something government, the private sector and community can do."

She said one of the most important considerations through drought is to maintain a focus on the wellbeing of impacted communities over the longer term, and that many farming families and communities need both short term assistance and longer-term planning and investment.

Donations to the appeal will be directed towards addressing hardship through vital services that support farmers and their local communities, such as funding mental health initiatives and supporting school and other education initiatives.

Donations can be made online at: www.bendigobank.com.au/rotarydrought or at any Bendigo Bank branch, and donations over $2 are tax deductible.