Media Releases

Shelley Hancock – Minister for Local Government

Thursday, 16 January 2020

The NSW Government is partnering with not-for-profit organisation GIVIT to ensure goods and services donated by the public reach people who need them most and reduce the workload of frontline personnel in bush fire affected areas.

Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro and Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said donations of clothing, furniture, toys, toiletries and other items continue to be brought to evacuation centres and emergency services facilities.

“The generosity of Australians and their willingness to lend a hand is truly inspiring and I have heard so many amazing stories about communities collecting goods and people driving them hundreds of kilometers to bush fire affected areas,” Mr Barilaro said.

“While we welcome every bit of help we can get, the sheer volume of the hundreds of thousands of donated goods is posing logistical challenges for local councils, charities and emergency services, who are running out of storage space.

“We are asking people who want to donate goods and services to do so via GIVIT, which will capture donation pledges online and ensure items that are required reach the people who need them most.”

Mrs Hancock said local councils and charities can use the GIVIT website to request specific items that are needed to help bush fire impacted communities recover and rebuild.

“People and companies wanting to give items can go to www.givit.org.au and easily pledge what they have available, as well as see what items are needed,” Mrs Hancock said.

“Keeping the vast amount of donated items in an online virtual warehouse will make it far easier to sort and distribute goods and relieve the workload of volunteers and logistics staff who have been cataloging and finding space to store hundreds of thousands of items.”

GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant said GIVIT is delighted to be working with the NSW Government
to assist bushfire affected communities.

“GIVIT’s website is a practical and efficient way of donating directly to people in need, we are the matchmaker – matching generosity with genuine need,” Ms Tennant said.

GIVIT supports communities by working with all local charities, recovery agencies and support organisations to provide exactly what they need for the residents they support. So please go to www.givit.org.au to see what is needed or to pledge your donation online.”

Sydneysiders wanting to donate food can take items to Foodbank at 50 Owen Street, Glendenning, in Sydney’s western suburbs. Further information is available at www.givit.org.au and www.foodbank.org.au

MEDIA: Jennifer Lugsdin | Deputy Premier | 0427 930 922