Greater Springfield developer has launched an online campaign calling for locals to share relevant skills to help fellow Australians affected by the bushfire crisis.
Springfield City Group recently launched “Springfield Sends Help,” a call to share any talent that can be used to help bushfire victims rebuild their lives. To kick-start the campaign, Springfield City Group staff offered marketing, landscaping and biscuit-baking services, along with a $20,000 donation to go “towards helping Greater Springfield residents travel to fire-affected areas and buy supplies for victims.”
“Springfield city is a nation-building project, and among our 43,000 residents are many of the skills the nation needs to re-build in the wake of the bushfire crisis – whether those are traditional trades like building and plumbing, or even ancillary skills like accounting, marketing and baking that can go a long way to helping a community get back on its feet,” Springfield City Group Chairman Maha Sinnathamby explained.
“We also understand not everyone is in a position to donate money but may still want to assist the recovery effort, so we thought ‘Springfield Sends Help’ would be a great way for everyone to give back in their own unique way, no matter what their talent.
“One of my favourite quotes is by Margaret Mead who said, ‘a small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
“We’re not a small group anymore, but through this campaign, we can definitely help make the world a better place.”
Springfield City Group would also be working with a number of existing charities, including Blaze Aid, which is a volunteer-based organisation that works with natural disasters affected families and individuals in rural Australia.
The Greater Springfield’s master developer will act as a link throughout the campaign, matching the skilled individual with a disaster relief organisation already on the ground. The person or business may then choose to either provide their services remotely or where possible, onsite.
“We are absolutely flat out at the moment and being inundated with calls for help,” Blaze Aid Founder Rhonda Butler said.
“Because we are volunteer run, we are really stretched for resources and therefore welcome any help we can get.
“The main task at the moment is to lift the spirits of these communities because it gives people a sense of direction and a little bit of a kick along.
“We’re trying to get people back up and running and get them back to their pre-disaster lifestyle, so knowing that a whole city is behind them will no doubt help give them some light during this dark time.”
Information on how to get involved in the campaign can be found here.
