Local farmers and community members impacted by ongoing drought conditions and now COVID-19 are set to get a boost thanks to national online charity GIVIT.
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Inverell Sunrise CWA, Rural Financial Counselling Service, Inverell Rotary and Rural Outreach and Support Services were handed over vouchers for different local businesses to distribute out to rural residents in need.
GIVIT NSW drought support officer Melissa Bowman also met with Inverell CWA and Inverell Lions Club to discuss registering with the online charity.
Ms Bowman said she was well aware the effects of drought were far from over across regional areas such as Inverell which was why GIVIT wanted to help.
"Inverell Sunrise CWA received vouchers for Out the Back Cafe, Let's Meat, IGA, the bolt shop and hairdressing. We love to support locally owned shops as we know small towns are struggling," she said.
After meeting with Sunrise CWA, Ms Bowman handed over $500 worth of Liberty Fuel cards to local Rural Financial Counsellor Geoff Mill to distribute accordingly.
"Rural counsellors are often the people who see farmers regularly and know their situations so we believe these vouchers will really be able to help out some local landowners," she said.
Rural Outreach and Support Services and Inverell Rotary both received IGA grocery vouchers and vouchers for Lennon's Butchery.
Ms Bowman said not only would the vouchers assist local people in need, they would also keep the local economy "ticking along" during COVID-19.
She thanked the local community organisations and charities that had already registered through the GIVIT website and encouraged more to get involved.
"The more organisations and groups we have on board, the more people in need we can help, the wider area we can spread to and get these vouchers out to. Once your group registers, which isn't a big process, you can put a request in our system for some vouchers," she said.
Although this was Ms Bowman's first visit to Inverell, she has previously been in Glen Innes, Armidale, Ben Lomond, Tamworth, Guyra, Gravesend, Warialda and Delungra meeting with groups to distribute vouchers.
The GIVIT representative hopes to make her way to Bingara, Ashford, Moree and Bonshaw in the near future.
If you are a local charity or service, register or find out more at www.GIVIT.org.au/need-help/organisations.
