Flood Relief Fundraiser
Donation protected
The recent floods tore apart the homes and businesses of many in Northern New South Wales and Queensland. Our hearts go out to those affected by these natural disasters. Money can't fix the trauma of losing your home but it can help you rebuild and get back on your feet when the going gets tough.
We have set a target of $30000. We have joined forces with a few charities and organisers on the ground to directly help in real-time with what is needed in the Northern Rivers flood crisis.
Soma is managing the logistical side of the gofundme so all our partners on the ground don’t have to.
Below is the list of where your donation is going:
Human Nature via smartAID
smartAID is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organisation specialising in delivering innovative technology to disaster zones. We spoke to members on their board and they have contacts with the largest international supplier of power washers who are the supplier for Bunnings. They are working on getting powerwashers expedited to the Northern Rivers to assist the clean up.
smartAID has also partnered with Human Nature, an established youth mental health service in the flood hit communities of the Northern Rivers.
The team at Human Nature (based out of Ballina) have been out working in the community throughout this flood crisis. They are shocked and distressed by the number of young people who have been displaced and experienced significant trauma and are keen to be part of the recovery process - engaging youth in the cleanup, connecting them to the community, building resilience by having an active role in recovery.
By providing urgent help to Human Nature the donation will equip them with the tools and infrastructure needed to make a difference in the recovery efforts now. The donation will also build the ability to make a contribution when inevitable future disasters strike, ensuring the youth are able to show their Human Nature and give back to the community, building connection and a sense of belonging.
Women’s Village Collective
Sama and the Women’s Village Collective are working around the clock to with the community to deliver food drops, supplies, sanitaries, medical supplies and locate the missing throughout the shire’s most unaccessible regions. They need our help to secure urgently needed supplies to deliver to those stranded. Mid term they will be raising funding for the developing housing crisis, homelessness and refurnishing of disaster stricken homes.
Sama Balson is the Founder of the Women’s Village Collective and an advocate for women's leadership to bring about social change; campaigning for equality, diversity, and social justice. The Women’s Village Collective (WVC) advocates for social justice and the implementation of systemic change to bring an inclusive system that takes care of women and children.
The Women’s Village Collective (WVC) is established for the charitable benefit of supporting women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness including but not limited to:
A. Providing assistance to women in housing distress arising from an inability to obtain or maintain secure affordable housing through:
· Providing access to emergency accommodation; and
· Assisting with costs of storage and removals
B. Other activities are designed to assist women to avoid homelessness and provide a secure future for themselves and their children.
Upper Main Arm Community Center
Community-based recovery operations at Kohinur Hall in the flood ravaged valley at the headwaters of Brunswick River. The funds will help for immediate emergency needs in the center in which some people are still unable to access fresh water and food.
Pips Plate flood recovery cook up
Soma is managing the logistical side of the gofundme so all our partners on the ground don’t have to.
Below is the list of where your donation is going:
Human Nature via smartAID
smartAID is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organisation specialising in delivering innovative technology to disaster zones. We spoke to members on their board and they have contacts with the largest international supplier of power washers who are the supplier for Bunnings. They are working on getting powerwashers expedited to the Northern Rivers to assist the clean up.
smartAID has also partnered with Human Nature, an established youth mental health service in the flood hit communities of the Northern Rivers.
The team at Human Nature (based out of Ballina) have been out working in the community throughout this flood crisis. They are shocked and distressed by the number of young people who have been displaced and experienced significant trauma and are keen to be part of the recovery process - engaging youth in the cleanup, connecting them to the community, building resilience by having an active role in recovery.
By providing urgent help to Human Nature the donation will equip them with the tools and infrastructure needed to make a difference in the recovery efforts now. The donation will also build the ability to make a contribution when inevitable future disasters strike, ensuring the youth are able to show their Human Nature and give back to the community, building connection and a sense of belonging.
Women’s Village Collective
Sama and the Women’s Village Collective are working around the clock to with the community to deliver food drops, supplies, sanitaries, medical supplies and locate the missing throughout the shire’s most unaccessible regions. They need our help to secure urgently needed supplies to deliver to those stranded. Mid term they will be raising funding for the developing housing crisis, homelessness and refurnishing of disaster stricken homes.
Sama Balson is the Founder of the Women’s Village Collective and an advocate for women's leadership to bring about social change; campaigning for equality, diversity, and social justice. The Women’s Village Collective (WVC) advocates for social justice and the implementation of systemic change to bring an inclusive system that takes care of women and children.
The Women’s Village Collective (WVC) is established for the charitable benefit of supporting women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness including but not limited to:
A. Providing assistance to women in housing distress arising from an inability to obtain or maintain secure affordable housing through:
· Providing access to emergency accommodation; and
· Assisting with costs of storage and removals
B. Other activities are designed to assist women to avoid homelessness and provide a secure future for themselves and their children.
Upper Main Arm Community Center
Community-based recovery operations at Kohinur Hall in the flood ravaged valley at the headwaters of Brunswick River. The funds will help for immediate emergency needs in the center in which some people are still unable to access fresh water and food.
Pips Plate flood recovery cook up
Please pass this page to anyone you know so we can help those who are affected. We ask that you consider donating a few dollars towards a small effort that will eventually reach those who have the impossible task of rebuilding their lives. Even $1 will go a long way to help someone out there.
Our community is one of the strongest forces. Let's do our part.
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gofundme FAQ:
Soma Byron (Soma Retreats Pty Ltd) is running this GoFundMe for our partner beneficiaries and those on the ground in the NSW Northern Rivers Flood recovery. Those that will receive these funds are listed below:
Human Nature: an established youth mental health service in the flood-hit communities of the Northern Rivers.
Women’s Village Collective: helping women and children of the Northern Rivers rebuild their lives after the floods.
Upper Main Arm Community Center: community-based recovery operations at Kohinur Hall in the flood-ravaged valley at the headwaters of Brunswick River.
Pips Plate flood Recovery Cookup: has created 8000 meals for our community already so far. For many this was the first meal they had in days.
How you are related to the person(s) you are raising funds for?
We are owners of Soma Retreats Pty Ltd and are directly transferring funds to our partners. We have transfer statements and proof available upon request. These partners have reached out to us or have been recommended as in need by our community. All have business accounts, we are not transferring any funds to individual private accounts. We have spoken directly to the directors of Pips plate, women village collective, human nature and the upper main arm community center board.
Your withdrawal plan to get the funds from your GoFundMe to the intended beneficiary/ies:
We are waiting for gofundme to allow the withdrawal of the funds raised in this fundraiser, until it does, Soma Retreats Pty Ltd is fronting funds and transferring directly from our business account to our partner charities. This is a crisis emergency and our partners on the ground need funding now, this is why Soma Retreats Pty Ltd is holding the financial risk for our partners - so they can get funds ASAP. The only cash exchange we have done so far is $2000 to Pips Plate which we have a receipt for.
How the funds will be spent (please be specific as possible):
Human Nature:
The team at Human Nature (based out of Ballina) have been out working in the community throughout this flood crisis. They are shocked and distressed by the number of young people who have been displaced and experienced significant trauma and are keen to be part of the recovery process - engaging youth in the cleanup, connecting them to the community, building resilience by having an active role in recovery.
By providing urgent help to Human Nature the donation will equip them with the tools and infrastructure needed to make a difference in the recovery efforts now. The donation will also build the ability to make a contribution when inevitable future disasters strike, ensuring the youth are able to show their Human Nature and give back to the community, building connection and a sense of belonging.
Women’s Village Collective:
Sama and the Women’s Village Collective are working around the clock with the community to deliver food drops, supplies, sanitaries, medical supplies and locate the missing throughout the shire’s most inaccessible regions. They need our help to secure urgently needed supplies to deliver to those stranded. Midterm they will be raising funding for the developing housing crisis, homelessness and refurnishing of disaster-stricken homes.
Sama Balson is the Founder of the Women’s Village Collective and an advocate for women's leadership to bring about social change; campaigning for equality, diversity, and social justice. The Women’s Village Collective (WVC) advocates for social justice and the implementation of systemic change to bring an inclusive system that takes care of women and children.
The Women’s Village Collective (WVC) is established for the charitable benefit of supporting women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness including but not limited to:
A. Providing assistance to women in housing distress arising from an inability to obtain or maintain secure affordable housing through:
· Providing access to emergency accommodation; and
· Assisting with costs of storage and removals
B. Other activities are designed to assist women to avoid homelessness and provide a secure future for themselves and their children.
Upper Main Arm Community Center
Community-based recovery operations at Kohinur Hall in the flood ravaged valley at the headwaters of Brunswick River. The funds will help for immediate emergency needs in the center in which some people are still unable to access fresh water, food, sanitary items, power washers, nappies, formala and any emergency necessities.
Pips Plate flood recovery cook up
The team of chefs and restaurants at Pip's plate is using this money to buy food, storage containers and rent industrial kitchens.
Organizer and beneficiary
SOMA BYRON
Organizer
Suffolk Park NSW
Peter Ostick
Beneficiary