Let’s all help where we can!

I, like many other people have been helping out the flood victims where I can. Mucking out houses and delivering cleaning products to businesses to help kick start their cleanup has taken some of my time recently, but there is another part of helping flood victims that is a little less obvious.

A healthy and balanced community is a finely tuned thing. The simplest of things can start a chain reaction with dire consequences. We are all well aware of the many possessions that have been lost from over 300 homes in Mitchell alone and we have all heard the stories of people donating goods to the victims to help them recover what they have lost. While this is a good thing in the short term to supply items such as emergency clothing, cleaning products and foodstuffs, when it comes to refurnishing their homes, this may not necessarily be in the best interest of the community in the long term.

The businesses in our town supply the products, services, jobs and commerce that makes our town a town. These businesses are the same ones that sponsor things such as the footy team, the races, the campdraft and the show as well as many other events and activities. When donated goods come into the town from outside, this can mean that these businesses have missed out. In rewarding one part of the community, we have disadvantaged another.

Take, for example, a can of baked beans. If someone from away was to purchase a can of baked beans and donate it to someone in Mitchell, the benefits are simple, the business from away gets the money and someone from Mitchell gets the baked beans. If the person wishing to donate the beans was to buy them in Mitchell, that would provide the grocery store with a sale AND the tin of baked beans to the person who needs it.

If we where to source our donated goods here in town, we would see money going back into the local businesses who, in turn pay wages to residents in the town, by fuel for their car, employs the services of a local tradesman and so on.

Studies have shown that for every dollar brought into a community from outside is equal to $3 going around within that community. Couple to that the money spent on freighting the goods to town, and the cost increases further.

What I suppose I am saying is that while we should always be willing to donate goods to those in need, if we really want to see bang for our buck, then we would be better off donating the cash.

“Ahh” you say, “But how do I know that my money will get used to help those in need and not gobbled up in admin fees or wasted on grog and cigarettes?” the answer is in how the money is distributed.

Maranoa and Regional Support Services, Mitchell and District Landcare and the Booringa Action Group have set up the “Mitchell Community Flood Appeal” this fund will be administered by the 3 organisations and 100% of the funds raised will be distributed to the community. It is proposed to issue vouchers redeemable at local businesses and the businesses have agreed not to supply cigarettes or alcohol. Voucher holders will be able to use them in the business of their choice.

To donate to the Mitchell Community Flood Appeal, you can deposit at any branch of the NAB:
BSB: 084822
A/C: 128598929
Use your full name as the reference and email details for tax deductible receipt to... 'recovermitchell@gmail.com' or phone Sharyn at BAG on 46237814.

We should also consider, that if we are coming from outside the Mitchell community to help, we would be doing the whole community a favor if we where to buy the goods we needed here.