An urgent appeal from the forgotten sector during times of crisis

We, as leaders of the Australian Charity Sector are appealing to the Federal Government to include our sector in the next round of Economic Stimulus announcements and provide funding to ensure our sector is able to survive and meet the demands of a growing vulnerable population. 

Now more than ever, we as representatives for the people who are vulnerable, voiceless and forgotten, need to show our collective and courageous leadership to get through one of the most challenging times our world and people have ever faced.

This is not business as usual for us or for anyone around the world. We get that.

Fundraising was always going to be hard for us here at OzHarvest in 2020 and for the 56,000 charities out there. Never has there been a more challenging time. This is now existential, we’ve surpassed BAU.

Having made the devastating decision last week to postpone our flagship fundraising event CEO CookOff for the safety of all involved, we are fully conscious that it puts OzHarvest in a financially vulnerable position for this year and beyond. It will be our toughest year yet.

I am sure many of you share our pain in many ways.

As a nation. As leaders. As people. We can stop events. We can close schools. We can limit the purchasing of toilet paper, masks and hand sanitiser. We can put a pause on business. But just as our healthcare workers can’t stop treating people when they are sick, we can’t stop feeding people. And as a community and society, we can’t stop caring for one another.

While this time calls on us all to take extreme measures, to isolate and distance ourselves from one another – something so unnatural to our world at OzHarvest as naturally caring compassionate humans, we’re huggers, mostly.

We must all show compassion and our innate goodness. We must cooperate and collectively we can get through this together.

At OzHarvest, we are working out ways to sustain our purpose to Nourish Our Country without compromising the health and wellbeing of our staff and the vulnerable people that we exist to serve.

Our clients are those most vulnerable and at-risk in society. The number of people who will need food relief and vital services like yours and ours that provide critical health, wellbeing and mental support and offers people dignity and respect in times of crisis will continue to grow in the months to come.

There are already over 5 million people already experiencing food insecurity and this figure is rising daily, with families from drought and fire-affected communities needing support to this extent. With a looming recession, millions of jobs at risk, anxious families worry about how they will put food on their table, keep their kids safe, and have safe shelter. 

There is no longer much distance between security and survival.

Charities and welfare agencies across the country rely on all of our services daily to deliver fresh and nutritious food every day. 

The potential loss of funding for us will be felt for the rest of this year and beyond – as we face the reality of $4 million dollars loss from CEO CookOff fundraising and revenue streams affected by COVID-19, which means 8 million less meals we are able to get out to those in need this year alone.

The recently announced Economic Stimulus Package shows no support, no assistance to our sector.

One that employs 1.3 million people, representing 10% of the Australian workforce, and contributes $150 billion to the economy – helping millions of Australians every single day.

Ironically, our sector is the one that holds up community spirit, provides critical health, wellbeing and mental support and offers people dignity, care and respect in times of crisis.

There has never been a more important time to show compassion and collectively come together to support our vital charities that are forgotten in times of crisis.

READ THE COLLECTIVE CHARITY SECTOR RESPONSE TO THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE