BE KIND SYDNEY to raise $1 million for local grassroots charities

• Be Kind Sydney launches Covid-19 Relief Appeal to raise $1 million
• Survey shows demand for charities’ services up 84%
• Appeal kicks off with first round of $180k in relief funds to 20 Charities

Be Kind Sydney is aiming to raise $1 million to support vulnerable people cope with the impacts of coronavirus in Sydney and NSW.

Thanks to early support from Be Kind Sydney founding donors, Sydney Women’s Fund, The Snow Foundation, the – Be Kind Sydney Covid-19 Relief Fund – kicks off the Appeal distributing $181,200 to 20 charities as a phase one response to increasing need in Sydney and NSW.

The funds go to organisations providing:

• Food pick-up and delivery of supplies to the elderly, families in need, and homeless
• Safety for women in abusive relationships and access to immediate help
• Online support to homeless and at-risk young people, keeping them connected to learning and care
• Support to young mothers struggling in isolation
• Programs for mental health and wellbeing for lonely elderly

Jane Jose CEO Be Kind Sydney says; “Be Kind Sydney Covid-19 Appeal is a special Relief Fund allowing us to use the combined knowledge of the Sydney Community Foundation and Sydney Women’s Fund of local Sydney and NSW grassroots charities to grow philanthropy and raise $1 million so we can ensure the wellbeing, mental health, and basic needs of our vulnerable are met," said Ms Jose.

“If Sydneysiders made a small act of kindness and went without one cup of coffee and gave the cost to help someone in need, it would make a huge difference right now to the lives of many people struggling in Sydney as the impacts of coronavirus deepen.”

A survey of 30 Be Kind Sydney local neighbourhood charity partners after the lock down began has revealed an 84% increase in demand for services, demonstrating the need for more funding to address the poverty and suffering growing in our city and state daily.

Chair of the Appeal and of Be Kind Sydney and Sydney Community Foundation, Michael Lynch AO CBE said; ”Need in our city was already great but now coronavirus is putting huge pressure on the grassroots local charities we support across Greater Sydney.

“Please give if you can.”

“We’re asking people who can, to give a tax deductible donation knowing their generosity will directly reach vulnerable people who are our fellow Sydneysiders and who are turning to grassroots services we fund.”

The Be Kind Sydney survey shows demand for charities’ services up 84% .

In the survey with 30 local charity partners Be Kind Sydney found all are impacted by the coronavirus.  A quarter are changing in-person support to online. And a quarter would need to invest $20,000 plus in technology to continue supporting their clients. Almost half have seen a fifty per cent or higher increase in the number of people asking for their services.

Ms Jose said Be Kind Sydney is here to respond and provide relief to people in need. “We are working with local leaders across Sydney and NSW in places of known poverty like parts of Western Sydney and the inner city who are really front-line essential workers.”

“This survey tells us that even as their funding drops, demand is increasing and our charity partners are having to find new ways to continue their connection, while many are becoming the go to place to secure food and basic supplies to feed local families, homeless, and the elderly."

Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections has a long-standing philanthropy partnership with Be Kind Sydney and Sydney Women’s Fund and has grown a suite of innovative social enterprises providing education and employment opportunities for local disadvantaged people.

Pat Hall, CEO LNC says, “We’ve had to stop people coming to the centre for their safety so now we’re connecting with our community online or by phone. This $10,000 Be Kind Sydney funding will help us to continue to secure food.

“Many people care for family members or they themselves have a disability or chronic illness and what little money they have has to spread over keeping a roof over their heads, and medicine. Food becomes optional so we fill that gap."

Mona Mahamed, Founder and CEO of Community Support Services a charity in Bankstown known as the CSS Village says; “This $10,000 Be Kind Sydney funding is a life line. Many people in our community like the elderly simply can’t afford $80 or even $30 for a food hamper to be delivered to them so this will help us make sure they have access to food and basic supplies."

“Some families are here in Australia on Skilled Migrant Visas, highly educated and with reputable jobs that have been made redundant by the coronavirus and now don’t qualify for any income support and have children to feed.”

“We’re delivering to a young asylum seeker with epilepsy in a boarding house and he has to pay $20 every time he uses the kitchen, so we provide weekly meals in addition to vegetables, fruit, bread and staples. Other families don’t even have a fridge."

Be Kind Sydney, a Public Benevolent Institution and DGR1 charity, is a subsidiary of Sydney Community Foundation and initiative of Sydney Women’s Fund.

Media Contact:

For further information contact Caroline Fonda Communications & Engagement Manager

Mobile 0431 747 031 | Email caroline.fonda@sydneycommunityfoundation.org.au