This is that national not-for-profit organisation GIVIT will be co-ordinating donations to bushfire-affected communities.
Further details are contained in the advice from the NSW Minister for Local Government, Shelly Hancock MP below.
GIVIT to co-ordinate donations of goods and services to bushfire-affected communities
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I
am pleased to announce that the NSW Government, on behalf of all local
councils, has commissioned national not-for-profit organisation
GIVIT to co-ordinate the donation of much-needed goods and services in
bushfire-affected communities across the State.
The State’s 128 local councils and their nominated local charities now have free access to the proven online service to better co-ordinate and manage donations to those in need. There is no doubt that the great Aussie spirit of giving has been shining throughout the current bushfire crisis, with councils and affected communities inundated with donations of cash, goods and services. While this generosity is welcome, it has posed some logistical challenges for local councils and charities in storing, transporting, sorting and matching these donations to those in need. The Government funding will provide all NSW councils and their local charities access to GIVIT’s donation management platform to co-ordinate donations of goods and services to bushfire-affected communities. GIVIT boasts an innovative virtual warehouse which captures public and corporate pledges of assistance online. The organisation then works with local councils, charities and community groups to match a donation to a recipient in need of that particular item or service. This not only ensures those in need get exactly what they need when they need it most, it also eliminates the need for physical storage and sorting of donations and potential disposal of unwanted goods. This in turn reduces the financial and administrative burden for local councils, recovery agencies and charities. The service also includes an online hub linking residents seeking assistance to trusted local support services. All monetary donations received by GIVIT are used to buy essential items from local businesses to help generate local economic recovery. GIVIT will shortly start contacting local councils to register them for the free service. The organisation will also provide local councils with a range of communication materials to promote the service in their local communities. I encourage local councils to work closely with GIVIT to better co-ordinate the donation of goods and services to bushfire-affected communities. GIVIT has previously assisted the NSW Government to co-ordinate donations for drought-affected communities. The organisation is also the official partner of the Queensland Government and co-ordinated offers of assistance after Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017, the 2018 fires and the 2019 floods in that State. For further information about GIVIT visit www.givit.org.au
Shelley Hancock
Minister for Local Government |
