In Victoria emergency relief effort is being run by experienced organisations who have provided the information below for those who wish to provide, or continue to provide, assistance.
Donations
The Bushfire Disaster Appeal
A Bushfire Disaster Appeal has been established in support community members affected by the recent bushfires.
Donations to the can be made via the Bushfire Disaster Appeal website or at any Bendigo Bank branch. The appeal will be conducted by the Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm, Community Enterprise Foundation.
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and donors will be provided with a tax receipt through the Foundation.
The appeal provides a formal channel for the public to donate money directly to affected communities and is designed to achieve positive outcomes for the community, by working directly with local recovery committees and structures to inform and drive the distribution of funds.
Funds raised will be used in a range of locally identified charitable areas to provide relief and recovery in the fire affected areas.
Material goods
Emergency management personnel are working with local councils in the affected areas to assess the needs of their communities.
The best way to help is by donating money to a registered not-for-profit organisation helping with the relief and recovery effort or to the Bushfire Disaster Appeal.
At this stage, donations of furniture or any other hard goods are not needed and cannot be stored or sorted. Please hold onto your donations until those affected know what they need.
Experience tells us that donation of money is much more effective and provides more flexibility than the donation of material items or pre-loved goods.
Find or offer free emergency housing
Airbnb’s Open Homes Program helps communities band together in the wake of a disaster.
If you’ve been displaced or are helping with relief efforts, you can book free accommodation between 2 January 2020 and 16 January 2020.
