News
Our Community Matters • 6 •
Community groups, charities respond to fire crisis BY MATTHEW SCHULZ, JOURNALIST, OUR COMMUNITY, WITH CLARE HUSSEY AND MARK FITZPATRICK
SCORES of charities, not-for-profits and community organisations continue to do their bit to counter the effects of Australia’s devastating 2019–20 bushfires. From supporting specific communities, to helping animals, rebuilding shattered lives, and launching fundraisers, people across the country have galvanised their efforts to assist others. As many community organisations who’ve been involved in disaster relief would know, this is just the beginning of a long recovery, and after the initial burst of much-needed donations, the longer-term sustainability of efforts will be tested. The impact of bushfire appeals on fundraising
efforts by unrelated organisations may also present challenges for community groups. Our Community’s donations arm GiveNow.com. au was among many organisations helping shepherd funding and assistance at the height of the bushfire emergency, producing a dossier of information about charities, fundraisers and other kinds of help that continues to direct donors and volunteers to appropriate organisations. A help page on the GiveNow site grew rapidly from a basic list to a directory of more than 100 organisations assisting in the relief effort. Donations through the GiveNow platform spiked at quadruple their normal levels as donors funnelled millions of dollars to good causes.
