Friday, January 21, 2011

More surprises!

Well I did not expect this!!  The Premier and the Red Cross are channeling all item donations through GIVIT.  I wish I had enough time this last week to blog - as it has been frantic, fascinating and sad.

Queensland is devastated.  There is no doubt about that.  People are donating cash but when they see the stories about what people have left (nothing) they want to give all they can.  I know that feeling.  People have given all they have to donate in response to this disaster.  Young mothers, refugees and many people who have nothing themselves are giving valuable items and money.

As I want to make giving a targeting direct event I have noticed some issues.  People from all over Australia have been collecting goods for our Queensland victims, but have not had any method of delivering these items and presume there is drop off points in every city in Australia.. there is not.  They are collecting clothes mostly, and it is something that we have far too much of now. 

Some surprises include the amount of PR companies that are calling me on "behalf of their clients" who want to know the situation.  "The situation" is a good question because it is different for every suburb and every street.  Some people are still in flood waters,some are going to relief centres, some don't have any clothes, some need cleaning equipment, some need electricity, some need a builder so they can lock their homes and then some need a new fridge or bed.  It really depends on the area, the weather and the amount of volunteers in the area. 

I have worked the hardest in my life to ensure the urgent items are getting to where they need to go outside of Brisbane and I have had Therese working in Brisbane to ensure the relief centres know we exist.  It is hard to cover all camps, but we are only set up to help Brisbane and so all of my work has to be manually done.

Our new website is due out in a week.  THANK GOD! We will do what we are doing very effectively! 
My next issue is delivery.  How are we going to get these items without a van?  I think it is time for GIVIT to get one.. but I always just wanted to be a portal!!!!

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