The 20,000 kilograms of clothing generously donated by the Newcastle community to help flood-affected people in the Northern Rivers left for Lismore on Thursday, May 12.
In March this year, the major flooding event saw the Wilsons River rise two metres above previous flood records, destroying homes and businesses in Lismore and surrounding areas.
In response to the disaster, Lifeline Hunter called for the support of the local community to help donate to a clothing appeal, which was immediately inundated with generous donations.
Lifeline’s retail manager for the Hunter and Northern Rivers, Michael Kats, said the items could finally be transported now that flooding had subsided and there was space to store and distribute the donated goods.
He said Lifeline had lost its Northern Rivers warehouse and three shops in the floods.
“Other communities also donated clothing, so we held back our delivery,” Katz said.
“We waited until the local people had started to get back into their homes or more stable accommodation and were able to store and use the items,” Kats said.
On Thursday morning, May 12, a semi-trailer was loaded up with more than 120 pallets of clothing, shoes, belts, towels, sheets, doonas and blankets at Carrington based manufacturer Thales, which has stored the items for Lifeline.
Newcastle Permanent covered the costs to transport the items from Newcastle to the donation distribution centre at the Lismore Showgrounds.
More than 50 Newcastle Permanent employees volunteered to help Lifeline volunteers sort and box up the donated items.
Newcastle Permanent’s chief customer experience officer, Paul Juergens, was one of the employees who volunteered.
“This amazing donation from Hunter people is part of the significant recovery effort that continues,” Juergens said.
“People across the Hunter were shocked to see the devastation in the Northern Rivers and wanted a tangible way to help, and we were really happy to help facilitate that.”
To donate to Lifeline to help it continue to support the mental health and well-being of flood-impacted communities, visit NorthernNSW.lifeline.org.au.
Lifeline also urges anyone who continues to struggle to cope with the ongoing impacts of the flood emergency to call 13 11 14.
Hayley McMahon