By Oliver Lees
A not-for-profit organisation is helping those that have fallen victim to the harsh storms that lashed Victoria by providing a service that tailors individual needs to public donations.
Founded in 2009, GIVIT is an online donation management platform where individuals, groups or businesses can pledge items.
The platform then allows registered organisations or individual users to accept the donation.
GIVIT Victorian manager Solange Ardiles said the extreme weather had triggered specific needs from the community.
“Majority of need is from a lack of power, we’ve had a lot of requests for generators and there’s been demand for petrol and food vouchers too,” Ms Ardiles said.
“Generally what happens in times of disasters is people rally together to gather items, but without proper identification that can actually be a burden for those having to receive and sort them.”
Woodend Neighbourhood House and Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health (SCCH) are registered donation partners of GIVIT.
SCCH access and support worker Cathy Brideson said after signing up for GIVIT early last year the organisation has been able to browse the virtual warehouse to find items that have been donated.
“We have found furniture, white goods, electrical items – even clothes and toiletries which has enabled us to assist many local people,” Ms Brideson said.
“GIVIT has been incredibly beneficial for a number of our clients and participants [including] those setting themselves up in a new home due to family violence [and] people experiencing economic hardship.”
To find out more, visit: www.givit.org.au/
