As of mid-January 2020, Australian bushfires have burnt an estimated 18.6 million hectares, that’s larger than the entire South Island of New Zealand.

Nearly 6,000 buildings, including nearly 2,800 homes, and the life of at least 34 people have been lost. The economic impact of the bushfires is expected to exceed the AUD$4.4 billion of the 2009 Black Saturday fires.

The impact is catastrophic.

As a local business servicing local communities nationally, the team at Smarter Communities is proud to do what we can to help.

From hosting concurrent fund-raising Morning Teas across our branch network to staff participating in bushfire relief runs, our teams raised $5,131 in January for the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery fund.

The generosity of our teams is matched dollar for dollar by Smarter Communities, along with an additional donation of $10,000, bringing total funds raised to $20,262.

“The devastation we have seen and felt across the country from the bushfires is heart-wrenching, but I am extremely proud of our amazing team who have shown so much support and care to those in need.

“Together we kicked-off the new decade acting out the best way we know how, to collaborate and unite as #oneteam for the betterment of communities,” said Alexander Lang, CEO of Smarter Communities.

In solidarity, we can make a difference to those in need.

You can continue to make tax-deductible donations to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery fund* at: https://fundraise.redcross.org.au/fundraisers/SmarterCommunities/fundraise-for-disaster-relief-and-recovery

*Smarter Communities company-matched donations ended on 31 Jan 2020.

#oneteam

#Bushfirecrisis