RACQ increases support to disaster relief charities

The latest initiatives build on RACQ’s previous work with the two organisations who provide vital support for communities facing the immediate impacts of a natural disaster.

As part of these partnerships, FareShare will double the number of ready-made meals available through its Disaster Relief Meal Program to over 53,000. These meals will be distributed to flood-affected regions, as well as stored in preparation for potential future natural disasters.

At the same time, more than 200,000 pieces of clothing will be made available to individuals and families through Thread Together's Emergency Clothing Hub and mobile wardrobes which will be positioned across flooded-impacted regions.

RACQ Chief Purpose Officer MJ Bellotti said these partnerships highlight the importance of organisations working together to support vulnerable communities.

“RACQ is committed to helping the North Queensland community recover from this devastating event and our team of claims officers, assessors and builders remain on the ground helping our members process their claims and start the journey of rebuilding,” Ms Bellotti said.

“However, we know severe weather events, like the floods in North Queensland, can have a lasting impact on the whole community, and can be particularly distressing for those who have been displaced from their home, isolated by road closures or impacted by supply chain disruptions.

“It was important for us to look at opportunities to do more, and this additional funding will get food and clothing to areas like North Queensland now and in the future.”

RACQ’s partnership with Thread Together will look to establish an Emergency Clothing Hub in the areas, alongside ‘mobile wardrobes’. These will travel to other impacted communities allowing people who may have been displaced from their home or lost all their clothing to rebuild their wardrobe.

FareShare Director of Community and Innovation Fiona Maxwell welcomed RACQ’s increased support, acknowledging the critical role of partnerships in helping Australians dealing with food insecurity.

“Many communities experience the devastating effects of flooding but fall outside the official disaster relief zones, meaning they don’t receive the same level of assistance,” Ms Maxwell said.

“This partnership with RACQ enables us to double the number of meals available in disaster affected locations throughout Queensland.

“FareShare works in partnership with agencies and charities on the ground to assist in recovery - this could be months, even years, in rebuilding for those in our community who are already vulnerable.”

Thread Together’s Head of Strategy and Planning Abby MacAllin said we are very grateful for the support from RACQ.

“This funding allows us to deliver vital clothing to flood-impacted individuals and families. In times of disaster, clothing is a key part of the recovery process, giving people not only the physical items they need but also a sense of dignity and hope for the future.”

RACQ Foundation’s grants program and assistance projects have been helping communities recover from natural disasters for more than 15 years. The Club has given out more than $15 million worth of Foundation grants and carried out 25 on-the-ground projects so communities across Queensland can bounce back and strengthen for the next challenging weather event.

About FareShare

FareShare is a charity which has been cooking free, nutritious meals for people doing it tough since 2001. Each year FareShare transforms rescued, donated and our homegrown food into millions of delicious, healthy meals that feed dignity and wellbeing for Australians experiencing hardship. A homestyle meal shows that somebody cares and has an immediate impact.

Our healthy meals are given away free to frontline charities such as soup vans, homeless shelters, women’s refuges, First Nations organisations and groups providing disaster relief.

About Thread Together

Thread Together is a world first organisation and is increasingly recognised as the most ethical solution to managing the issue of surplus end of line stock. The service solves two problems – protecting the planet by saving clothing from landfill and helping vulnerable people, restoring dignity and choice by giving them access to new clothing.

Find out more about RACQ's community initiatives.