Unless called for by authorities, donating things like food, furniture, clothes or white goods often only leads to over-supply and creates additional challenges with storage.
Donations
If you are making a donation, make sure you're dealing with a legitimate fundraiser. You can do this by:
- Looking for an official appeal established by the Victorian Government or well-known relief organisations with a strong record in providing aid – be wary of giving money to an unfamiliar charity
- Donating at your local bank
- Only handing over money to someone wearing proper identification
- Asking for a receipt
- Making sure collection tins/containers are sealed and clearly labelled with the fundraiser's logo.
- Fundraising
Fundraising
Sometimes, just making a donation doesn't feel like enough. If you want to do more, you can help raise funds through your workplace or a community group or sports club. For example, you could organise a morning tea at work and ask for gold coin donations to go towards an appeal or a nominated charity.
Other ideas include partnering with your local cinema for a fundraising screening, hosting a gala dinner, holding a trivia night, or organising a barbecue or fair. A raffle can be an effective fundraiser, especially if you keep your costs down by attracting prizes through donation.
Make sure you make it clear what you are raising money for, and let the participants know how they helped. If you do organise a fundraiser, be aware that there are requirements for some activities. Some organisations will need to register their activity. Make sure that your event is a success by ensuring you comply with fundraising laws as part of your preparation.