CommBank is continuing its support for communities impacted by the catastrophic flooding across New South Wales and Queensland after distributing a further $2 million in funding through its CanGive Flood Appeal.
As an immediate response to the floods, CommBank provided $800,000 from the CanGive Flood Appeal earlier in the year to emergency responders such as Australian Red Cross, Queensland SES, New South Wales SES and Thread Together, to provide immediate assistance on the ground. The additional $2 million will help a number of flood-affected charities and communities as they transition out of crisis and into recovery, a process that will continue for some time.
The CanGive initiative was launched in response to the devastating floods and enabled CommBank customers to make their own donations in the CommBank app. In addition, CommBank pledged an additional $1 million top-up to bring funds raised to $2.8 million to support customers and communities clean up, rebuild and recover.
A number of CanGive recipients, like Good360 and Foodbank Australia, were able to use the funds to provide immediate assistance.
Good360 has been connecting goods donated by businesses to people and communities who need them most. Alison Covington, Good360 Founder and Managing Director, said: "The funding will help us facilitate the provision of vital goods and services to our communities in need. An example of this is our recent delivery of Harvey Norman furniture to Agape Outreach in Tweed Heads to help local families replace damaged furniture from the floods."
Foodbank Australia continue to pack and distribute crisis hampers and personal care hampers for those in need. Brianna Casey, Foodbank Australia CEO, said: "The grant will be invested into our Key Staples Program, providing food relief to impacted communities across both New South Wales and Queensland during these extraordinary times. This includes items such as cereal, milk, canned vegetables, pasta, meal bases, rice and meat which will be distributed incrementally through the recovery period."
Other recipients, such as Lifeline and Northern Rivers St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies NSW), are using the funds to provide support for the longer-term recovery efforts.
Lifeline's Northern Rivers retail shop operations, which is a major income stream to support services to the community, were heavily damaged with the loss of three shops, a warehouse, two trucks, and one vehicle. Michael Were, Lifeline's Northern NSW General Manager, said: "The CanGive donation will help us ensure Lifeline crisis supporters in Lismore can get back to answering crisis calls, support our in-community mental health and wellbeing team, as well as support Lifeline to continue the distribution of clothing and household items at the Lismore Showgrounds Community Distribution Centre."
Jack de Groot, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO, said: "This funding will support outreach to hard-hit communities that received lower levels of initial assistance due to access issues, including in Chinderah, Coraki, Kingscliff, Woodburn and in some areas of Tweed. We're working collaboratively with the local community to determine further on-the-ground priorities for recovery, including supply of essential items and referrals to specialist housing, mental health, and other key local services."
Kylie Smith, CBA Executive General Manager of Corporate Affairs, said: "Recovery efforts are ongoing and we are here for the long haul. Our thoughts remain with everyone who was impacted by these devastating floods.
"We are committed to supporting communities now and in the future as they move out of acute crisis to commence the long and difficult process of recovery. With the scale and devastation of the floods still being understood, funding and support is going to be required for some time to help these local communities get back on their feet.
"Through the CommBank CanGive initiative, we have partnered with our customers to raise much-needed funds and drive further support for flood impacted communities. The funds delivered so far are helping with clean-up and will further aid ongoing rebuild and recovery."
The full list of CanGive recipients includes Australian Red Cross, Good360, Lifeline Northern NSW, Lifeline Australia, Foodbank Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), NSW SES, Thread Together, BizRebuild, The Salvation Army, Wires, Baby Give Back, Need for Feed, Clean Up Australia, Girl Guides and Scouts.
