Recovery continues for flood impacted communities six months on from disaster

Media release | April 2023

RECOVERY CONTINUES FOR FLOOD IMPACTED COMMUNITIES SIX MONTHS ON FROM DISASTER

In the six months since devastating floods swept through parts of Victoria, not-for-profit donation platform GIVIT has provided almost 45,000 essential items and services to impacted communities.  

GIVIT is still working with more than 40 organisations, including local councils, outreach teams, charities and community groups to manage offers of donated goods, services, volunteering and funds in response to catastrophic flooding across the state.  

GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant said that there are still many people displaced or living in temporary accommodation six months on from this disaster. 

“This is a long-term recovery for so many people and we know that we will be working with some of these communities for years,” said Sarah. 

“We have seen an enormous amount of generosity from people across the country who want to help those impacted by this disaster. 100% of publicly donated money received by GIVIT is used to purchase essential items and services for affected communities and where possible we buy locally to support the economic recovery of the region.” 

Many families in the Shepparton region were displaced in the floods and are still residing in temporary accommodation. GIVIT has been supplying groceries to food distribution charities in the area to assist this community throughout their recovery.  

GIVIT has also provided essential items to the Echuca community. Some of these donations include a mobile phone for a woman who lost everything in the floods to allow her to stay in contact with family and friends, camping equipment for a family that were left homeless after the disaster and grocery and fuel vouchers for residents suffering from financial hardship as they rebuild their lives.  

“GIVIT was working with an organisation in Mooroopna who identified six families from the local primary school who were heavily impacted by the floods,” said Sarah. “These families were struggling to find temporary accommodation after they lost their homes and were unable to afford food and essentials in the lead up to Christmas. Thanks to generous donors, GIVIT was able to provide Christmas presents for all of the children as well as grocery and fuel vouchers to help these families through a really difficult time.” 

There are still requests for almost 500 essential items on the GIVIT website for people impacted by floods in Victoria. These include bed linen for a couple in Mooroopna who are moving back into their home, a dehumidifier for a woman in Maribyrnong who is still living in a caravan on her property while her home is repaired and solar panels for a pensioner in Narre Warren who is living in a caravan and needs power before winter.  

“There are several phases in the recovery of a community after a natural disaster,” said Sarah. 

“Early in a disaster the needs of communities are urgent as people may have escaped damaged or unsafe properties and are staying in an evacuation centre or with friends. This is when emergency items like grocery and fuel vouchers, blankets and bottled water are needed.”  

“As people begin to move back into damaged homes needs evolve and that’s when we see requests for things like generators, cleaning materials and building tools. Later in the recovery furniture, kitchen items and white goods are required.” 

“There is still a lot of need in flood impacted communities across Victoria, to find out how you can help please visit GIVIT.org.au.” 

“We want people to know that they haven’t been forgotten.” 

Go to GIVIT.org.au to find out more.  

For more information please contact:
E: kate.fisher@givit.org.au M: 0444 503 759

About GIVIT

GIVIT is the smart way to give. Through GIVIT.org.au, we channel generosity where it is needed to support
vulnerable people and communities in Australia.

Working with more than 4,500 support organisations, we ensure people get what they need when they need it most – whether recovering from an emergency event, or experiencing hardship due to circumstances such as drought, domestic and family violence, homelessness, disability, and mental health.

GIVIT captures all offers of goods and services online, removing the need for charities and services to sort, store and dispose of unrequested donations, saving valuable resources. 100% of donated money received by GIVIT to support people in need are used to purchase essential items and services. We buy locally, wherever possible, to support local businesses and the economic recovery of affected communities. GIVIT’s operational costs are covered by government contracts and corporate partners.

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