Queensland floods - early 2022
Early 2022 saw unprecedented rainfall in Queensland which resulted in widespread flooding across many parts of the state.
To aid in the recovery effort, the Queensland Government contributed $2.1 million to registered charities who were able to supply food, equipment, shelter, and other support where needed:
- Australian Red Cross - $500,000
- Lifeline Queensland - $500,000
- The Salvation Army - $500,000
- St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland - $500,000
- GIVIT - $100,000
Many Queenslanders also showed their support by donating money, goods and services, or through volunteering opportunities.
How these donations helped Queenslanders
With this support registered charities worked to deliver:
- $1 million worth of furniture donated by Amart Furniture partnering with The Salvation Army to distribute to people severely impacted by the floods.
- Financial grants to help meet immediate essential needs-including food, clothing and medical supplies-in 21 recovery hubs across Queensland.
- 30,000 items of Bonds clothing through GIVIT from corporate partner Hanes.
Read more about stories of how:
- St Vinnes came to the aid of a Beerwah local
- GIVIT partnered with the Indigenous Futures Foundation
- the Secret Sound stage raised money through the Flood Aid event in Brisbane
St Vinnies came to the aid of a Beerwah local
With thousands of Queenslanders suffering damage to their cars, homes and properties due to the recent South East Queensland flood event, the St Vincent de Paul Society provided much-needed assistance in the community.
The St Vincent de Paul Society received $500,000 in Queensland Government support in early March 2022 to support their flood recovery work and kickstart the Queensland flood relief campaign.
One person who received their assistance was Joanne who woke to find water up to her knees in her small cottage near Beerwah. Fleeing the flood filled property, she left with no more than a small bag of belongings; the flood waters ruining what was left at her home and her vehicle.
Staying in an evacuation centre in Sippy Downs with no home to return to, she met with a ‘Vinnies’ Member from Landsborough who was there to distribute clothing to those in need. After hearing her story, the organisation supported her to stay in a motel as she searched for a secure new home to live in. They also assisted Joanne with clean clothes, laundry, basic food and grocery essentials, and put her in touch with the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy to help secure her a new place to live.
GIVIT partnered with the Indigenous Futures Foundation
The Queensland Government partnered with GIVIT, providing the organisation with $100,000 to assist communities across the state impacted by the flooding.
As part of its community work, GIVIT worked with the Indigenous Futures Foundation. The foundation was able to cook and distribute nutritious meals to flood-affected Indigenous communities in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
GIVIT visited one of the foundation’s collection hubs in Coomera to provide $3,000 worth of grocery vouchers and $1,000 worth of fuel vouchers to assist Indigenous people impacted by the flood events.
The Secret Sound stage raised money through the Flood Aid event in Brisbane
Leading touring company Secret Sounds announced a range of fundraising initiatives to assist with flood recovery in Queensland. A Flood Aid event at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall, featuring Australian icon Bernard Fanning and many more acts, was held on Saturday 26 March 2022.
Secret Sounds has a target of raising $1 million and a commitment that 100 % of money raised will go directly to flood affected communities. They have so far raised over $648,000 for flood relief in Queensland and New South Wales, and are one of many corporate partners working with charities GIVIT and Lifeline.