Vinnies offering financial grants for flood-affected Northern Rivers residents, opens flood assistance centres

From today, the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is offering grants of up to $3,000 to flood-affected Northern Rivers residents and opening a flood assistance centre in Lismore.

These will be followed by a site in Casino tomorrow and later in the week in Ballina.

“These emergency grants are being made available to people so they can meet their immediate and critical needs.

“Sums of $1,000, $2,000, or $3,000 are being provided to flood-affected residents depending on criteria including the level of damage their property has sustained, the size of the family, and insurance status.

“This is an important early part of a response to a natural disaster – people have been displaced from their homes and businesses,” Clare Van Doorn, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW Regional Director – Flood Response, said.

“The devastation across the Northern Rivers has created a logistical nightmare.

“With access opening back up, we are now opening our recovery centres to distribute financial assistance and essentials.

“Our volunteers and staff in the area have been assisting their communities since even before the floods hit.

“They helped prepare people and businesses for the floodwaters and distributed essentials like food and water in their immediate wake.

“Now the first of our convoy is arriving and we are able to set up these recovery centres to provide additional assistance,” Ms Van Doorn said.

“People are still in need of food, water, and clothing but there is also a strong need for temporary housing, bedding, and more.

“A lot of people’s homes and businesses were significantly damaged in the floods, and they will not be able to return for some time.

“This recovery effort will be a long-haul process and Vinnies will be here to help throughout the process,” Ms Van Doorn said.

Lismore Central Council President, Gail Gaudron, explained that accessibility of the Vinnies recovery centres will be critical.

“We know transport is also something that can be hard to come by at the moment as many people had their cars badly damaged in the floods.

“The Society is trying to make the recovery centres as easy to access as possible.

“We are also working with a network of other charities and local government to enable people to get the help they need as easily as they can.

“I encourage everyone who can to donate to the Vinnies Flood Appeal.

“It is going to take the people in this area a long time to recover,” Ms Gaudron said.

Donations to the Vinnies Flood Appeal can be made at www.vinnies.org.au/nswfloodappeal, by calling 13 18 12, or at any Vinnies Shop.

Recovery Centre Locations

Lismore

Opens 9:00am today

Southern Cross University - V Block

Casino

Opens 9:00 tomorrow

Casino Community and Cultural Centre
35 Walker St, Casino

Ballina

Opens later this week

Ballina Surf Club - Lighthouse Beach Parade
East Ballina

Media contact: Lachlan Jones | 0417 446 430