TOUCHED by the devastation faced by victims of recent bushfires in regional Victoria, Elms Retirement Village residents decided to lend a hand.
They organised donations, and in a heartfelt ceremony last Tuesday morning, presented a cheque for $3050 to BlazeAid director Kevin Butler.
“We actually put out an appeal. We put out a letter explaining what happened at Longwood, the bushfire devastation, and asked people to put a donation in an envelope,” Elms Residents Committee secretary Marlene Gooding said.
“Kevin Butler came down and did a beautiful presentation of what they have been doing, and we were all keen to support it. We did a presentation and then a morning tea after that. It was just a couple of hours, but it was just to say thank you to the community who donated, and to give them a bit more insight in what they actually donated,” Mrs Gooding said.
BlazeAid, an organisation started by Kilmore East farmers Kevin and Rhonda Butler in response to the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, helps people rebuild their lives after fires, floods and droughts.
The residents regularly organise fundraisers to help worthy causes. Last year, they raised funds for cancer victims and plan a similar fundraiser in June.