Griffith Meals on Wheels sending out 85,000 bottles of hand sanitiser following ‘huge donation’ from Good360 Australia
An incredible donation of more than 85,000 bottles of hand sanitiser is being distributed across the community, as Griffith and the MIA rally to protect themselves from the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
The 36 pallets of sanitiser is worth over $680,000 and was donated to Griffith Meals on Wheels by Good360 Australia.
Meals on Wheels co-ordinator Tennille Valensisi said the sanitiser is going out free of charge to non-profit organisations, charities, schools, church groups and any other group that has identified a need for it.
“The sanitiser is going to help provide protection and support against COVID-19 and we’re really excited to have this opportunity to help out in such uncertain times,” Mrs Valensisi said.
“Nobody knows what is going to happen with this pandemic and if we can do this little bit to help control infections we’re not going to say no.”
Some of the service providers receiving the sanitiser will also be sending it out to remote communities such as Murrin Bridge and Lake Cargelligo.
GRATEFUL: Mark Richards and Jason Vumo from Pioneer’s Lodge had their car packed to the brim with the boxes of hand sanitiser. PHOTO: Monty Jacka
Cindy Eldridge, care co-ordinator for Murrumbidgee Council, picked up her free pallet of sanitiser on Thursday morning and said she’d be handing the bottles out in Darlington Point.
“We’re going to be distributing it to the schools, pre-schools and some local businesses as well,” Ms Eldridge said.
“It’s a huge help because it can be a really big cost to get hand sanitizer and last year we couldn’t access it at all.
“When we heard we could get a free pallet we jumped on board straight away and hopefully it will help keep our community safe.”
Alison Covington, the founder of Good360 Australia, said the donation is part of her organisation’s push to protect regional NSW communities from COVID-19.
She added that she was “very proud” to help groups in the MIA limit the spread of infection through the sanitisers.
The truckload of hand sanitiser was delivered to Griffith on Thursday morning for distribution, with yet another act of generosity getting involved.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to the Grillo family who have let us use Rinaland to unpack the truck and who have lent us their forklifts and everything like that,” Mrs Valensisi said.
Some of the sanitiser is yet to be claimed and any groups looking to receive some packs can contact Griffith Meals on Wheels to get involved.
With Australia accelerating efforts towards circularity by 2030, it is critical that all sectors of the economy and society are working together collaboratively and cooperatively to address the increasing resource constraints, inequities in resource allocation and growing waste challenges. This requires consumers, businesses, governments, and the charitable sector to all play their part in creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all, recognising we are all part of a collective dynamic ecosystem that is co-creating our future together.
Congratulations to our Member of the Month for March, Uniting Vic.Tas. Uniting Vic.Tas run several programs to assist communities in need and provide donations from Good360 in addition to services they provide. Since becoming a member in 2018, they have shared numerous impact stories of the joy they have created, especially to communities who have not experienced outreach previously. Read below on some of their programs and some special stories they have experienced on the ground.
March 8 is International Womenâs Day, and this year UN Women Australiaâs 2023 theme is âCracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal futureâ. This brings an opportunity for everyone to acknowledge the power of innovative technologies and systems in the advancement of women, who are marginalised globally and have a smaller presence in the digital world. We are also challenged to address the current barriers in place that keep women stagnant and play our small part to welcome women to move through society as comfortably as men.
