Our hearts are heavy, our land is burning and our people are hurting.
Abrand will be making a donation to VAEAI @koorieeducation to aid our local Indigenous community in this crucial time of need. Our donation will also be matched by our parent company, Threebyone.
All the monetary donations and goods donated to VAEAI will go directly to Koorie organisations, who are taking donations and using funds to aid Indigenous people in Victoria, with a focus on the Gippsland community, which has been badly impacted by the fires. If you wish to donate to VAEAI, a link will be placed in our bio so that you may contact them to make a donation.
As the damage from the fires was unprecedented, our donation will likely be used to purchase gift cards for those in need, as access to banks, ATMs and financial services in these communities is currently limited. This will provide support and funding to those in the community with emergency needs.
We felt it was important to donate to Indigenous people, the rightful owners of our land, who have been identified as a group in urgent need of support. We pay our respects to those fighting fires, keeping our people and animals safe and putting their own lives at risk.
For those located in Melbourne, VAEAI will also be holding a fundraiser this afternoon from 3pm - 8pm, all information will be shared in our stories as to how you can help.
Other places to donate include @cfavic @nswrfs @wireswildliferescue @redcrossau, all charities and organisations which are actively funding bushfire relief.
Stay safe and look after each other. If there was ever a time for our community to band together, it is now.
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We acknowledge that these tragedies have occurred on Sacred Indigenous lands. We wish to pay respect to our Elders, past, present and future, and further acknowledge the important role that Indigenous people continue to have within our communities.