What We Do | Recovering From The Floods With Neighbourhood Centres Queensland | Helping Flood-Affected Queenslandersact in SEQ

Flood recovery in Queensland

2022's devastating flooding left many people in a constant state of struggle. People who were already experiencing hardship found themselves left with nothing after widespread flooding wiped out their homes and belongings. People getting back on their feet after the pandemic faced yet another hardship. Recovery has been complicated by the increased cost of living.

GIVIT's partnership with Neighbourhood Centres Queensland has been crucial. Local neighbourhood and community centres have identified need, and GIVIT has coordinated essential items and services.

69,204 Items & services provided to flood-impacted communities via neighbourhood & community centres (as at 21 February 2023)

43 Neighbourhood & community centres have received donated items, services or vouchers

New furniture for a young family

A couple and their young kids in Rosewood endured repeated homelessness and displacement as floodwaters rose and fell, finally finding a place to live.

Upon moving in, the family discovered that their items in storage were flood damaged.

With their limited funds already spent on bond and moving costs, the family asked for help from Rosewood Community Centre, and via GIVIT's online warehouse, a new mattress, bed base and other essential household items were provided. After spending a long time living in insecurity and sleeping rough in a car, the family is now comfortably living in a stable house and recovering.

It's support from corporate partners like Golding that allows GIVIT to react quickly to meet need when Queenslanders are impacted by flooding and other disasters.

Getting back on track

Bill* lost everything in the floods that affected Wulkuraka. He had no insurance, and the prospect of rebuilding his life seemed daunting and impossible.

Through a local community centre, GIVIT provided Bill with vouchers to purchase essential items like food, clothing, and household goods. The support allowed him to focus on moving into his new rental property and gave him a sense of stability.

He said he'd never have been able to get back on his feet if it wasn't for GIVIT.

"Without these vouchers and support I would still be on my mate's couch with no motivation to move on"

– Bill*

Grocery vouchers ease headaches

The Laidley Community Centre provides support to many families in the local area. To help meet those crucial needs, GIVIT distributed grocery vouchers to ease the financial burden on people recovering from the floods.

One farming couple with three children under eight was affected by bushfires and drought, followed by flooding in November 2021 and February 2022, which destroyed their crops and cut them off from town. They planted a replacement crop which was washed away by more floods in May 2022.

GIVIT donated grocery vouchers to ease the financial stress on this family.

“Thank you for the vouchers, they couldn’t have come at a better time.”

- Farmer who received vouchers

A giving community during the cost of living crisis

Following the floods, many neighbourhood and community centres reported an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness.

With the increased cost of living across Australia, and many people finding themselves displaced due to the floods, entire families were sleeping rough, couch surfing, or sleeping in their cars, often without blankets or pillows.

GIVIT facilitated the donation of 150 sleeping bags and other camping items from BlackWolf. These were distributed across 18 neighbourhood and community centres to provide a temporary solution for people sleeping rough.

A meal program for the vulnerable

Donated fridges

Nambour Community Centre requested assistance to purchase a defibrillator and to replace their malfunctioning freezer, which stores meals that have been cooked by volunteers and are handed out to community members in need.

GIVIT purchased two upright freezers and a defibrillator for the centre to ensure they can continue to support the community through their meal program and be prepared should any of the vulnerable community members accessing the centre require urgent medical attention.

Having a strong relationship with neighbourhood centres has been incredible. They are the connector, and they know exactly what the community needs. It’s incredibly important that GIVIT makes sure that the generosity goes to the place it is needed. We couldn’t do that without the amazing work of local neighbourhood centres.

SARAH TENNANT | FORMER GIVIT CEO

You are amazing. We love the work you do making these requests so easy. Please give our heartfelt thanks to all your donors and staff for their awesome work. It makes a life-changing difference to people every day.

We gave a voucher to a gentleman the other day who broke down and said that the gift voucher was life-changing. He said to pass his love and thanks to the amazing people who are so generous to him. He said he has never felt so cared for as he has lately. He was flooded at Rocklea. Thanks so much for your continued support of all our community, especially our floodies at the moment.

JO | YERONGA COMMUNITY CENTRE

GIVIT has helped us all throughout our flood recovery journey. From 2011 and 2022, we were one of the first charities that were registered with GIVIT. We have been able to help our community during the most recent floods via vouchers and requests that we have put in through GIVIT. The service GIVIT provides is life-changing. People that have had nothing, including no insurance, or family, have been able to get support.

MELINDA | YERONGA COMMUNITY CENTRE

Would you like to help?

This recovery is expected to take some time. GIVIT will be here for the the coming years as a long-term support for these communities impacted.

You can see below the essential items and services that are still needed by people affected by these natural disasters. Consider donating money by clicking on the FUND button next to a request. You can also choose to donate funds here. 100% of publicly donated money received by GIVIT will be used to buy exactly what's needed by people experiencing hardship. GIVIT also endeavours to buy items locally wherever possible to stimulate the economic recovery of local communities.

See what people need right now

All
Items
Time and skills

597

Filter by:

Appeal

Item

Recipient

Delivery

Area

Fuel voucher - $50

Single mother of 2 fled a long-term relationship due to violence, working to heal and reunite with her children