Dear Editor:
The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations (AFUO) has transferred $68,201.89 to the Red Cross to support the Bushfire Relief Campaign.
The AFUO Campaign – Kolyada for Australia – Bushfire Relief was an extraordinary effort by Australia’s Ukrainian community whereby AFUO member organizations and community members all pulled together.
It is another indication as to how united and effective this community is. When called upon, all parts of the rallied and showed their commitment.
In doing its due diligence, the AFUO contacted the Red Cross prior to transferring the funds and asked for a response to some of the claims made in the media as to how funds are being spent.
The AFUO received a comprehensive response which noted (in part):
“We’re humbled by the thousands of people who donated – from the children who gave their pocket money, community groups such as yours and to those who contributed from all parts of the world – and we’re committed to using that money to help Australians affected by the bushfires to recover and rebuild.
“Almost $120 million was donated in January alone, far more than we’d imagined. We’re distributing well over $1 million every single day to people who need it right now. It’s going as grants to people whose home were destroyed, to homeowners who need to make structural repairs to their primary residences, to people who were injured by the fires, and to the next of kin of those who have sadly passed away. People can easily apply for these grants online and, when they can’t, we go out to them. So far over $40 million has already been distributed directly to those people in need. …”
In early January the AFUO and the Red Cross staged an event in Hobart to symbolically show some of the funds collected. (See The Ukrainian Weekly, January 26.) Donations kept on coming, and those who made commitments realized them over following weeks.
The AFUO extend its gratitude to all who were so generous and sends a big thank you to all!
Stefan Romaniw, Kateryna Argyrou
Co-Chairs
Iryna Andreeva
Secretary
Darka Senko
Chair, AFUO Humanitarian Initiatives Committee
Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations
Melbourne, Australia