Jay Keyzer and partner Amanda Simon moved their six sons from Appin to the Riverina town in January after purchasing the Grong Grong Royal Hotel.

But after two months in operation, the family was forced to close their investment as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions. Continuing to operate as a takeaway business has left significant dents in the family's resources.

"We were sitting down, watching television one Sunday night, and that was it, we were told [by the prime minister] that as of 12 o'clock the next day, we'd be shut," Mr Keyzer said.

"We are doing takeaway food and beer, but it's very different from having people here. We're not in Narrandera or Wagga where people would be travelling through and would stop off for a take-away meal."

Aged between 16 and seven, their sons have all begun studying from home amid the health crisis, forcing even more pressures on the family's resources.

Through the generosity of a relative stranger, Mr Keyzer has found some farm work in town.

"One of the blokes who would come to the pub gave me a hand and offered some work," he said.

But aside from that, the family were facing dire times.

That is when Grong Grong local Murray Dawe stepped in to help. Himself a non-drinker, Mr Dawe does not visit the pub, but he lives nearby and had seen the family struggling.

"This is all through no fault of theirs. They were making good in-roads before they had to close up," Mr Dawe said.

"They're not in a position to make anything from their investment [and] they're still paying utilities as commercial rates, it's very expensive for them," Mr Dawe said.

"I'm a father, it costs a lot to feed a family."

Mr Dawe approached the family with an offer to host a gofundme fundraiser in their name, to keep them afloat over the difficult time.

"We couldn't have a regular fundraiser, so it had to be done online, that's just the only thing we could do," Mr Dawe said.

"[The hotel] is the hub of the community, at the end of the day, we can't let it close. We want it to be there to re-open after all the restrictions are over."

Since beginning the fundraiser on Monday, the residents have already raised nearly $1500 from a small number of donations.

"People know it would be a loss for our community if there was no hotel," Mr Dawe said. "It's our meeting place, it's the drop-off point, sporting clubs use it, fundraisers use it. We need it."

As for the family, they have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of their new community.

"It's amazing to have someone do that for you, it's just so amazing," Mr Keyzer said.