The CLF Featured Cause for the Month!

The Flowerdale Bushfire Relief
http://www.flowerdalerelief.com/

This feature came about because CEO Deloitte Digital and CLF National Advisory Board Member Peter Williams' in-laws had their house in Flowerdale completely destroyed in the Melbourne fire whilst being lucky enough to survive themselves. Like lots of other volunteers, Peter dropped everything at work some two weeks ago and has been working with the Flowerdale Community since to assist residents trying to pull their lives together now the fires have passed. In my view, this is the most underestimated part of the process because the media is no longer interested in those who huddle in tents each night living like refugees or third world citizens trying to make sense of their future. The world's headlines have moved on to another tragedy - the Sri Lanka cricketer terrorist attack and those who are lost but alive are forgotten. When I become involved in charity I like to have a personal connection with the charity. I personally don't like donating to telethons or unknown NGO's. It is just a preference I have. So here now is the CLF's and my opportunity to support someone who has supported the Creative Leadership Forum fully since its very inception.

Whilst cash is crucial, goods and services are also vital in getting people back on their feet. So if you have books, old beds whatever you might be considering throwing out or giving away, if you can spare some cash or goods or services take a minute and go to http://www.flowerdalerelief.com/ and donate. Thank you for listening to me.!!

Comments

[Andrea Rieniets]

Thanks for the coverage of this important need in our Victorian community. If I can make one correction to your post by way of a plea?

Please DON'T donate what you are considering throwing away. The very last thing people who have just lost every dear possession and familiar icon in their lives needs is your junk!

How do I know? Because I work in one of the effected areas and am surrounded by people who either volunteer on those relief centres or have lost their entire homes. Shoes with poor stitching have ripped the hell out of my homeless colleague's heels, making her daily work painful and slow. Though many people are freely giving and offering useful new and in good condition, some people are cleaning out their 'third drawers' of rusty tin openers, packs from a long ago flight kits (including eye masks - just what you need when your house has burnt down!) and busted stuff. It clogs the relief process and offers insult to injury to the potential recipients.

Give money I say. Or contact a local relief centre and ask for the list of needed things and go out and buy them new and REALLY give.

[Grant Crossley]

Thanks for your feedback Andrea.

We appreciate your explanation and have to agree with you, cash is the priority here and after the media focus fades, will continue for a long time.

Thankyou
Grant