By Taylah Eastwell
Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS) has “never been so busy”, with displaced mountain residents in need of help now more than ever following the storm.
DRERS chief executive officer Tania Bevan said the storm was one of the most devastating events she has ever seen impact the mountain.
“It’s one of the biggest events I have seen up here. I was here during Ash Wednesday, but this is devastating,” she said.
According to Ms Bevan, “a lot of people are at breaking point” while others are seemingly “coping well”.
“There are lots of people coping well but many that aren’t. Everyone has different circumstances and people have different ways of coping,” she said.
DRERS has funded hotel accommodation for residents whose houses have been deemed uninhabitable or unsafe following storm damage.
“We got a lovely donation to pay for people’s accommodation, so we have been booking hotels on top of our usual assistance with food,” Ms Bevan said.
The emergency relief service has been a donation drop off point, with many local businesses and individuals donating various items for storm-affected residents to pickup.
“We are also taking items up to the Olinda and Kalorama hubs and have been trying to get the word out that we have fuel vouchers for people that are running generators. We are also buying firewood for people who maybe can’t afford or can’t go get firewood,” she said.
The relief service was recently given over 1500 cans of food from Belgrave South Baptist Church to help feed hundreds of people as winter sets in.
Belgrave South Baptist Pastor Tim Dyer said his church donated 1200 cans last June as well.
“We just want to help the people who may be doing it tough in the Hills and DRERS are the professionals in that field,” he said.
Ms Bevan said rip-top food cans suit people who are homeless who cannot access cooking facilities.
“It’s something the church have done every year and they keep donating more and more each year. It’s something we are very grateful for because at this time of the year canned food goes very quickly, especially for people who are homeless,” she said.
While food donations are appreciated, Ms Bevan said the best way the community can help with post-storm recovery is by donating money.
“If people want to help the best thing they can do is donate financially because it means we can help people who are rebuilding their lives once the power is back on. Usually all year round we love when people donate food but during an event like this, food is not going to make the hugest difference to their lives if they haven’t got the money to make an insurance claim to start repairs on their home and that’s where we can help out,” she said.
Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service offers help to people who are disadvantaged with food, food vouchers, payment of prescriptions, clothing vouchers, assistance with paying bills, advocacy, referrals and crisis counselling.
