“Charity for other charities” enters North West

Pilbara charities are set to get a helping hand this year with the arrival of a not-for-profit group which links community services with donated goods they urgently need.

National group GIVIT is making its first foray into the North West after partnering with WA business Centurion and delivered its first round of donations shortly before Christmas, refurbishing a Pilbara safe house and giving gifts to children at Roebourne Hospital.

Other projects, including more safe house refurbishments and the creation of care packages for domestic violence victims, are planned for this year, and staff hope to establish a permanent presence in coming months by hiring a regional co-ordinator.

GIVIT WA manager Travis Fitch described the organisation as “a charity for other charities” and said its work linking donations to those that most needed them benefited donors, recipients and charities alike.

“Sometimes people want to give, they just don’t know how, and so you can have untimely donations that land on the doorstep of a charity that doesn’t have the capacity to manage it and that donation can go to waste,” he said.

“This is a way for people to pledge an item and it stays with (GIVIT) until it’s actually needed by a charity. We’re not the white knight riding into town thinking we know exactly what this community needs, we’re simply the matchmaker between the donor and the charities.”

Mr Fitch said there was high demand for GIVIT’s services in the Pilbara, Kimberley and Gascoyne, mainly related to domestic violence and steep costs of living, and the organisation was keen to partner with local charities to help address those issues.

Centurion chief executive Justin Cardaci said the company was excited about the part-nership’s potential to help North West residents in need after see-ing the gratitude of the first set of local recipients. “We are del-ighted to partner with GIVIT and help make a difference to the lives of those less fortunate,” he said.

“We hope this delivery to such worthwhile recipients is the first of many.”

To donate or request a donation, go to givit.org.au.