The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) is asking community foundations and local organisations in places impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires to assist with the distribution of gift vouchers to families who need them.
As part of its Back to School (BTS) program, FRRR will be distributing a total of $500,000 in $50 gift vouchers into areas affected by the Black Summer bushfires. Families will be able to redeem the vouchers for school essentials, such as school uniforms, shoes, school bags and stationery.
BTS program aims to help students by providing the key items they need, which may have been lost during the bushfires, so that they can focus on their education and keep learning.
FRRR partners with local groups who can discretely distribute the vouchers to local families in need. This means parents don’t have to apply for the vouchers but still receive support.
More than 5,400 students have already been given a helping hand this year, with vouchers valued at more than $250,000 having been distributed to families in places affected by the Black Summer bushfires, thanks to the generosity of donors from across Australia.
Jeanice Henderson, BTS Program Coordinator, said that while $50 dollars may not seem much, in FRRR’s experience, it makes a practical difference, especially for those who may have lost everything during the fires.
“For families and students impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires, recovery is already a difficult journey. These vouchers will mean they have a helping hand when it comes to covering the costs of things like books, stationery, or winter uniforms and shoes,” Henderson explained.
“We are grateful to the Community Foundations and local organisations that have partnered with us so far as part of the BTS program. These organisations know the challenges that locals face when it comes to disaster recovery and can reach those families and students most in need of support.
“We hope other local organisations, which we know are already doing amazing work to support families like these in their communities, will come on board to help distribute our BTS vouchers,” she said.
Community foundations and local not-for-profit community organisations can apply for vouchers via the Back to School page on the FRRR website.