The NSW Nationals in the state government are extending their partnership with charity organisation GIVIT to ensure donated goods and services reach people who need them most in regional cities and towns recovering from the impacts of drought and bushfire.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced $407,000 in funding to enable the national not-for-profit organisation to continue to facilitate requests for essential items through its online donation platform for a further 12 months.
Mr Barilaro said while many farmers have seen good rainfall and the vast majority of bushfire destroyed properties have been cleared, COVID-19 has made recovering tougher for many families and business owners.
“The generosity of Australians who have dug deep and helped drought and bushfire towns has been inspiring and as material items and financial pledges continue to come in, we want to ensure they are getting to the people who need them most,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The road to recovery takes time and that process has only been made more challenging by COVID-19, which is why we are extending this partnership to ensure GIVIT can continue to match-make genuine needs with generosity.
“So far GIVIT, with the support of the NSW Nationals in the state government, has been able to match more than 85,000 donated essential items such as white goods, appliances, groceries, fuel vouchers and everyday toiletry items to people who have been doing it tough.”
GIVIT NSW manager Scott Barrett said GIVIT had been working with charities such as Braidwood Life Centre and the Sapphire Community Pantry Bega to efficiently deliver items to where they are needed as well as coordinating cash donations, 100 per cent of which were spent to purchase essential items.
“Since partnering with the NSW Government, we’ve welcomed hundreds of charities and services to our donation management network, which has helped us triple the number of material donations to communities in need across the state,” Mr Barrett said.
“It is fantastic to see our GIVIT model working so efficiently to match the generous outpouring of donations to people in need and the funding announced today will mean we can carry on with this essential work to help bush communities.
“I urge all charities and groups involved in bushfire relief and recovery to register with GIVIT’s online donation management platform, so they can quickly access the specific items their communities urgently require.”
To pledge cash and item donations, or to learn more, visit www.givit.org.au.
