The Lithgow Bears Rugby League Football club were one of many sporting bodies doing it tough this year but that didn't stop them from supporting others in need.

In recognition of their great resilience and support, the club was awarded the NSWRL Grassroots Club of the Year on Tuesday, October 6.

They also received $5000 and a voucher for Steeden sport.

Lithgow Bears secretary Lauren Stevens said with natural disasters and a global pandemic, the Bears were determined to help out as much as they could.

"With the bushfires we had ice bags, sanitizers, food and water to send to RFS crews and our facility was used as an evacuation centre," she said.

After the bushfires settled down the Bears hoped to get back onto the field for preseason training and ready for a March kick off until COVID-19 hit.

"We were really struck by that but we rallied together to get something going especially to support our local businesses and sponsors," Stevens said.

They ran with a shortened season in the Wallerawang Landscaping Cup.

"We successfully managed to register more than 50 players and kept every member of the club active during the COVID-19 lockdown offering at home training programs, zoom gym sessions and support for those in need especially with mental health," Stevens said.

She said the main reason why a competition was wanted this season was to give back to the community.

"That's our main thing - to give back and provide a social atmosphere."

Stevens said on behalf of the Bears she was proud to have been awarded for commitment to the community.

"We are one out of 40,000 clubs to have won this award. It means so much because everyone has put in the effort to get the club up and running and to continue on for the future.

"It is a massive achievement, we are all so proud of everybody," she said.

Normally the awards would be presented at a main event in Sydney however due to COVID-19, NRL visited recipients individually.

Former Panthers, Dragons and NSW player Jamie Soward visited Lithgow to present the award along with NSWRL general manager BJ Mather. Nathan Hindmarsh was also due to attend but had to unfortunately cancel at the last minute.

NSWRL general manager BJ Mather said the Grassroots Club of the Year award was the most significant award to give and commended the Bears on their efforts.

"It shows how well they [the Bears] have engaged in their community. We always talk about how important it is to support your community and the Bears have definitely shown that this year," he said.

A school holiday clinic was run by NRL and the Bears invited junior players from around the area to join in.

"The event was about getting kids out during the school holidays and out of the house," Stevens said.

Stevens wanted to thank the Bears committee, volunteers and sponsors for their ongoing support during these unprecedented times.