Lets just get the job done!

Yvonne (my wonderful Flood Recovery manager) and I asked Careers Australia to train unemployed people in Fernvale to rebuild houses of people desperately in need.

We thought the rebuilds would cost us thousands, but with the help of many local organisations and donors we have rebuilt three houses for $1700!!

I am so proud by what can be achieved by people without agendas, without training, without red tape.

Found some frenemies

I had my first political event... and also learnt what a portmanteau is!

I went to Lindsay Fox's fundraiser for the Premier's Relief Fund on the weekend and spoke to Anna Bligh and Major General Mike Slater. He is a humble, hard working and empathic.  I really like him.  I really like her too.  I told MG Mike GIVIT was busy and being effective with the resources we have, but also moving forward I would like a list of the flood affected so that they can be legitimised and contacted easily.

I asked him if we could have access to the Red Cross/Police records and he said that the (accurate) list was with the insurance companies.  I have already contacted the insurance companies and expected no reply, but MG Mike replies "the insurance companies will not give the Government access to the people's records due to the Privacy Act", but with one raised brow - he knew there was other reasons.  I usually respect the Privacy Act of 88, and consider is one of the most important features of GIVIT - but we need accurate records and insurance information to find those affected.    I am sure they would release their information to charities and the government for funds/donations.   He said they are (gridlocked) because of the insurance company's delays.  I dare say the government and insurance companies are now officially  "frenemies"!

Things are desperate for many families.  There are now several charities literally door knocking in the Lockyer Valley.  The 'door knocking groups' are arguing and seem to be in competition with each other too.  The competition isn't working, as it has now got to the point where we find out about a desperate farmer/individuals (with the credit card ready to buy what ever he needs) and he resents (or is very suspicious of) our call.  He doesn't want to explain what he needs one more time, he is sick of being let down or she is tired of broken promises. Honestly, most of these lists are overwhelming with farm equipment and things that just require large amounts of money..

Just today I have heard about a bigger charity trying to knock over a smaller hard working organisations, that has sprung up since the floods. They say they do not have DGR or something similar - as if that is a sign of efficiency!

I love GIVIT, and how it is inclusive of all charities and groups.  If they work hard with impoverished, marginalised or vulnerable people THEY ARE IN!  As I was reminded today "it takes a village.." so drop the claws and work together!

Jx

FYI - Apparently the word Frenemy is a term used to describe personal, geopolitical, and commercial relationships both among individuals and groups or institutions who is a friend or to a partner who is simultaneously a competitor and rival.  It has been used as "early as 1953" - but hey that wasn't that long ago!

A letter from a recipient! What!

Dear Juliette, (I think she must have got my email from the website About Us page)

Today I was rendered speechless, when I received a massive bag of goodies via Givit. Inside was everything I needed and so much more - winter pyjamas, underwear, beautiful tops, boardshorts and a swimsuit and shoes for physiotherapy, the warmest yet lightest doona, towels... so much  more. I was blown away. They were such beautiful things, too!

Whoever did this for me had taken so much care and time and is so generous and I would like to thank him/her from the bottom of my heart, I cannot thank them enough. It is obvious too that whoever donated these items genuinely loved doing so and to feel that someone out there was so kind and cared so very much is amazing, so very heart warming.

There is no way I would have been able to afford any of these items myself, and they have been given to me just a week after I asked, so very quickly. Just in time to keep me warm and to help me starting my physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. I have come a long way fighting my eating disorder but in winter I still have a lot of trouble with the cold and now I am going to be able to sleep comfortably. I am also going to be able to do my walking program and the physio/hydrotherapy with the clothing I need which does amazing things for my confidence and takes a load off my mind.

The first thing I did after marvelling over these beautiful and timely gifts was to jump in the shower so I could use one of the towels, got dressed in new undies and pyjamas (okay maybe this is a bit tmi lol) and dived into bed under the doona... bliss!

Please can you thank this wonderful donor for me. I cannot thank them enough. I could rave forever :) :) 

Thank you with all my heartfelt best wishes,

(Donor)

Crying again, I will comment later.

Quality GIVING! YES YES YES!!!!

I have had a few memorable highlights in my life.. and this is one of them!

Kyra and I were invited to see the furniture that a new women's refuge have taken off the virtual warehouse!

We had tears, excitement and more joy than we can explain as we saw the amazing donations, the quality, the generosity of our GIVIT community.  The quality was exceptional!!

 As it is a women's refuge we cannot tell you the location, but it is in Brisbane and close to transport and shops..

It felt like we were in a resort!

All the women who will be sitting here on this couch have run from an abusive home with 3-5 children.

They are hiding from abusive husbands and partners.

We think it is a good place to hide!

All the rooms have a cot ready. 

The cupboards are filled with toys.

All the linen is from GIVIT donors..

This unit is beautiful!  We can't believe the funiture is used!

All the kids rooms were inviting, and lots of fun!

The houses are homes!

Here is Kyra our National Manager.  It is so wondrous to see the donations really helping women in need!  Thank you thank you thank you - to all who donated!

Maybe compassion is the elixir of life.

Kate (at info@givit.org.au) manages all our major donations and also does the most crying in the office.  She emailed me today thanking me (!) for the opportunity to work at GIVIT, and be apart of this amazing world of giving.  Yesterday she co-ordinated a great donation to a wonderful flood affected family, and the details are sad but inspiring.  Tears flowing for quite a while this morning.. it felt like my heart broke and opened at the same time!

Kate is so so hearty.  She is a full time volunteer, and is in love with her demanding role.  Her love is deep and also on her sleeve.  I don't know what I would do without her.   I have never said as much but she looks younger and younger to me every day.

I was thinking about Kate, and her compassion when I read this article -certainly not in the first part though :)

The Huffington Post describes "The anti-inflammatory properties of compassion have now begun to be studied. In a 2009 study, scientists at Emory University School of Medicine, trained 33 people in a Tibetan Buddhist compassion meditation, which involved the structured generation of feelings of compassion, and compared them with a group of 28 people who didn't do the meditation. After six weeks those who did the most compassion meditation had much lower levels of inflammation than those who did the least or none at all. "

It explains that inflammation is related to aging, so this research "certainly tells us that compassion could slow the aging process."

I feel younger too! But haven't noticed any of those other changes!

Website launch

I am really nostalgic!  Terribly nostalgic!

I just want to acknowledge my little (Brisbane based) website that is going to sleep in 2 hours.  I set it up not sure if anyone would donate anything, but hoping someone would.  I took a huge leap of faith in people - sincerely hoping  - day and night!  They did, they donated everything from nail clippers to houses.  I have cried a thousand joyful tears looking at the website and I am going to miss the site "created by a mummy" as I call it.

It's like your son/daughter going to college feeling - a joyful goodbye but the type with fear and tears. But, I am the one that feels like I have grown up.

Again, I feel I am taking a huge leap of faith - but now with 12 friends (volunteers) to support me in managing the.. butterflies. Now, thankfully, I don't have to high-five the plant when something great gets donated!

Ok, so, farewell baby.  I love the balloons so much - but sadly you have to go  :( 

I was about to print every page, but you wouldn't believe it, I have run out of paper!

The houses are going home.

I received a really wonderful and nourishing email today.  I really wanted to share it - for many reasons.  All the time, money, effort, stress, good intentions, hours, dedication, love and willingness to help people is really WORKING!

We donated 4 houses through GIVIT during the floods.  Two donors pulled out, but the other two created this wonderful reality.

Sue from Adopt A Family wrote to me today:

I have some very exciting news to share!!!!

Both of the houses (Wynnum and Bulimba) are coming off their blocks next Wednesday midnight!!

We have a white knight removalist who is transferring them to a holding yard at cost and babysitting them free of charge until we can get them to the Lockyer Valley.

We have also finally got the 2 families chosen for them!!

Bulimba is going to a couple whose sister, brother-in-law and nephew all perished in the floods

Wynnum is going to a family who the son pushed his sister into the roof cavity and went to help his mum and dad - his mum was pinned behind a fridge and the water circling eventually washed them both out of the house. The son clambered into the roof with his sister and eventually they punched holes through the roof to get to safety. They found their parents 2 days later, 2 kilometers down the road along with their baby brother's ashes that was stillborn.

A very sad story for these kids - but collectively - starting with you guys(!!!) we have pulled a miracle from our hats to provide this family a brief glimmer of hope for the future.

I know you're probably just wiping away the running mascara - but this is what makes all those long, tough days really worthwhile!!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us the privilege of being a part of something so amazing.

xxxxxxxxxx

Sue Kennedy

We need to find these "white knights" and acknowledge them as the heros they truely are! I don't know how to acknowledge Sue.  She is a.. queen of hearts.  I have not met her yet (not for the lack of trying but she is ridiculously busy) but she is connecting all of us to something bigger than my intentions of 'being connected and donating to those in need' to actually giving to those in need. She is my 'direct', she is our 'charity' our 'front line', and she is "doing a Dave" (an extraordinary act of human kindness).

Cruel - geeze!

I have been scared off blogging for a few weeks after being called 'cruel' for the blog I wrote about the camper-van that was donated.  Quality is such a huge issue for me running GIVIT, and there is no nice way to say "PLEASE DON"T GIVE US CRAP!"

I have worded 'quality' as bluntly and delicately as I possibly can, but I hope the new website sorts this issue out.  We had another devastating donation last week.  The Red Cross and Adopt a Family were waiting for a van that ended up full of vermin and black mould.  The family was devastated, but the charities were liable!  We cannot exchange items that are not safe.  It makes me so sad.. I can't tell you.

"Quality" or "Direct"

We  changed the brand statement of GIVIT for the new national launch (coming soon!!) from GIVIT "Quality Giving Network" to "Direct Giving Network"  to emphasise the one to one aspect of our portal BUT some events during the flood crises have caused me to have  a moment of remorse about this change.

I am hearing reports that some of the flood donations being made are really of very poor quality - a few examples:

• Two bags of clothes posted  to Brisbane from Sydney (at some cost I would think) had to be thrown out due to stains and bad wear and tear (but they has been washed and ironed at least)
• Vacuums without the nozzles  (and out of date machine- so no spare parts readily available)
• Used underwear and pillows  (those readers who have read how I came to start GIVIT will know how I feel about underwear  donations )
• Unsafe or just plain filfthy items

No one, no matter how desperate, should be expected to happily accept used underwear, and who really needs a pillowcase you can actually see through ?   Some people aren't donating, they are dumping!  Arrggh.
It also means lots of wasted time and effort on the behalf of charities and volunteers who have to sort thru this stuff.

We think quality donations means items you would happily give your family , best friends and loved ones. How do you think quality donations should be defined ?  Should I be changing the wording from direct back to quality ? Let me know what you think.

I am going to address this in the  wording on the new website today and get a bit strict with our donators in 2011 !

JW

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!!!!

Flooded with donations

I am finding it difficult to get in contact with community leaders in the flooded areas.  I have found one.. ONE!   The campaign was successful - getting what we required for Bundaberg in 24 hours!  Again.. surprised.

I have decided to empower one gorgeous volunteer as a requester (a charity).  She has told us that head-lice is a  very big problem up north right now.  One of our frequent donators said that Frontline knocks them dead - and is very cheap.. don't think I will be asking for that though!

Did I mention that givers in Brisbane are phenomenal.  One of our volunteers got three items off the list (bought by her husband) for Christmas.  Items on the GIVIT List are Christmas presents.  How cool is that!

These floods are so devastating I feel that this will be my focus for the next 6 months.

Cheeky!

Oh dear - my first issue with donors! Well, not true, there has been a few items that charities have not taken due to quality but I have always seen that as part of the awareness campaign of this "quality" giving network.

Apparently.. donors/donators are forcing charities to take items other than the ones that they requested.  I never saw this coming!! 

There are a number of issues with this..  People are using them as rubbish removalists which is frankly a bit rude!  Remembering impoverished people have very little space and most charities do not have warehouses to store donations - being one of the big reasons they love GIVIT! I might talk to my volunteer/friend  (aka: smarty that help me with legal jargon) about changing the participation policy to ensure this doesn't happen.  Also so we don't get complaints from the donators complaining that the charity was ungrateful!

GIVIT's first Christmas

I think this month we have donated over 8,000 items.. YES!  There are hampers galore being received by worthy recipients this week.. I feel so good to be involved.  Hopefully we will have lots of photos come through this week.

GIVIT is spreading like a (good) wild fire!  I can see it is going to be popular nationally! I have had growing pains for the last 10 months - so I am used to it.

I have witness SO MUCH good giving this month I am unsure where to start and finish - but a new one for the books is-   Jonathan from Blow (Montpelier Rd) gave ($150!) hair vouchers to his customers who gave to GIVITs campaign to make hampers for homeless teens!  We made up 60 amazing bags with great hair products and great donations from Wright Property (our major benefactor)..

So now people are giving to people who are giving!  Just phenomenal.

Donations virtually flying everywhere!

I am going to write about Dave on the GIVIT List - he is wonderful.  In fact, I wish I would ask him to write it!  He made us cry again today! Third time for me.. Krya who manages the GIVIT list is blown away! As Kyra said to Dave "..I hope your family is very proud of what you have done, and the number of people that you will have assisted.  I think if more people took a small leaf out of your book, we'd have a lot less people in need."  Yes.. good gracious YES!  I will certainly think about ways to help people "do a Dave" next Christmas.

I have had two phone calls (yesterday) with the charity workers (from Micah and Quihn) who were co-ordinating two of our Christmas campaigns.  The donations have been so gratefully received.  They are going to send us more photos (!) but this is what GIVIT people have donated so far to Quihn! This is half of it!  There are many more toys..

We rarely get to see the items being donated that I studied it for about 10 minutes! That is all wonderful food and toys and toiletries.  I know the three major donors (Jenny, Lyn and Naomi) must feel terrific about their contribution.  There are over 1000 items there.

The children who are homeless are going to receive their toys tomorrow!  WE GET PHOTOS!  YES WE DO!! It is so rare to get photos! The Micah team are in love with GIVIT, and they will release photos to us next week.  They received more than enough toys for the 115 homeless and at risk children.
And, this is from Belle..  it is all going on this week!

First of all, THANK YOU so much on behalf of staff and the women and kids at IWSS (a center for abused immigrant women) for all the support you (and the rest of the Givit team including donors) have provided for us. It has been an amazing year and we have truly been very fortunate in having such a great relationship with a wonderful sister organisation!!!

Just as a feedback for you guys (and your donors), we have received a total of $1,275 value of food cards which we distributed at our End of Year Celebration last week, and have actually started distributing as soon as we received them in the mail (as we have women in crisis come into our office). We were so overwhelmed by the community response and I think we were all blown away by the humble generosity and kindness people have shown. So, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! We cannot thank you enough, not only for the food cards, but also for the ongoing in-kind support we’ve received through your website.

I am witnessing a giving phenomenon!

Bob_needs_a_bed.org?

Here is Anna - our lovely admin@givit.org.au volunteer - she is a molecular scientist - who wants to contribute.  She is the "Charity liaison officer".  Sounds fancy but she authenticates all our charities, excluding the new organisation "Bob Needs A Bed" and other weird charities people create to try to request goods.

Surprised again!

I have been doing this for nearly a year now and people still surprise me.  My poor husband Glen had to deal with me in floods of tears in a restaurant (men hate that don't they!) when I was reading what has been donated this weekend..

Dave had committed to find a mower for the lady who has been at the bottom of the list for many many weeks ~ I was so happy I was emotional.  (Note: I was going to give the charity the sad news that we were unable to help her today).  But, he then wrote us this in reply!!

My family has decided to not give Christmas presents this year which we have been trying to do for many years.  None of us need anything.  I am therefore happy to spend on the needs of others.  I have looked at the Givit site and notice the following items are needed.

• Washing Machine
• Bar Fridge
• Swing set
• Rectangular dining table and 6 chairs
• Male bicycles
• Non perishable food
• Fishing gear
• Acoustic steel string guitar

       I will endeavour to buy all of these items but cannot guarantee they will all be new..
                                                        Dave - thank you!!

Volunteers

I am constantly amazed about the quality of good people who will work for GIVIT for free, and apply the dedication they would for a full paying job.  We have 8 (including myself) in the office, and they don't stop for lunch! Below is Kyra our GIVIT GIRL.. who works 7 days a week editing the GIVIT List and matching your donations with needing charities requesting for clients. 

Kyra works with the charities very closely and is also the one who thanks you when you donate!

I need dedicated volunteers who come in weekly, but I am matching large groups of volunteers from schools and businesses to charities seeking support.  This time of the year is especially busy as we all feel we want to connect with our community on a real level.

Note:Volunteering will be easier on the new site when it is automatic. 

People are just incredible.  I witness it every day.  A woman just donated a new washing machine and she told us her family decided that is was going to be their family Christmas donation.  I just received an email from one donor who dropped of 450 non-perishable food items and toiletries to a charity this morning.  We count both on them as one donation each!!

Tom

Okay, I am enjoying this.  My brain is enjoying the time to reflect this way!

I would like to follow on from the first blog, and talk about the role and pressure of the normal social worker and the preconceived ideas we might have about them.  A great example is our hard working "Tom".

Tom works at a homeless shelter in Brisbane ensuring that the men that he works with get secure housing after they enter exit the service.  He is the head of the "Outreach Program" which is what they usually call his position across Australia.  Tom is paid for 4 days work, but works 7.  He uses his personal mobile to keep connected to his clients, and he ensures that the men who return to the streets (sometimes with their children) are safe, and I personally believe he simply can't rest - feeling connected, as you would knowing the men personally.

Note:  The biggest rise in homelessness this year is children between he ages of 0-4.  The worst and most depressing fact of 2011.  Tom is also the head of a homeless father's outreach service, that I bet he started himself due to the high number of homeless fathers with children he cares for.

So, who is there to support Tom to do his job? Well, his existing established (large) service is now receiving less funding and also less cash donations.  They are stuck between strict organisational and religious rules and strict government funding regulations AND find it impossible to source sponsorship due to social attitudes that his service can provide EVERYTHING to every client. There are more people than ever requiring his service due to economic times and there are more clients with very difficult mental and health issues that are being neglected from other burdened services. 

Sooo, we think of the government for support.. well they told me frankly (when I went for funding earlier this year) that they are.. in their words.. "..broke! And we can't afford to pay the bills we said we would.  If GIVIT was to have funds it would go from essential services."

Black and White:  Existing services are going to find it harder, quickly. New programs (that stop the boat from leaking) will not happen.

So, you might meet Tom.  And you might find him tired and sad.  Worse still! He might not take your donation because it might not be suitable (for a client is a tiny flat) and he might come across as rude.  But be compassionate because he is on the front line and he is working for free!

Welcome!

I have been inspired by Anna Spiro - a wonderful blogger - to join the crew!  I thought my very first post would be all about how wonderful it feels to give, how phenomenal it is to witness the giving spirit, and what it is like to facilitate giving every day.. and it is a wonderful job, but today I barred my first charity from using GIVIT!

They are a very very big charity, so I won't mention their name.. The issue was that they had committed to some donations from the Virtual Warehouse and didn't organise collection of the items, and it wasn't the first time.

I was unsure how to proceed as I truely love their wonderful service but it felt that it is necessary to bar their use of GIVIT until I discussed the matter with them.
 

I always thought my biggest nightmare starting GIVIT was that something that we had received/donated ended up on eBay!  But, really, it is about loosing trust.  It seems that GIVIT's reputation is solely centered in other Charities.  If they do not collect the items it reflects on GIVIT, rather than them.  Donators (once they start the process of donating thier pre-loved items) want to act.. they love the action of giving.  So when it is hard for them, it goes against my very grain of why GIVIT is.. Giving is easy.. My goal is to keep it that way.
 

In any case all is well now, and they are back on track.  Like most people this time of year it is difficult to juggle all the balls we are dealt, but especially if you are a social worker dealing with people with very complex issues.  It is very important to remember that social workers are not super human, and don't always have the resources they need.. but that's a whole other story!