Australians are rallying together to support Townsville residents impacted by floods

AUSTRALIANS are rallying together to set up donation pages to support more than 200,000 Townsville residents.

AUSTRALIANS  are rallying ­together to set up donation pages to support more than 200,000 Townsville residents impacted by the flooding disaster.

Crowd-funding platform GoFundMe has launched a centralised donation hub to make it easier for people to support flood-affected residents or to ­create campaigns of their own.

Mount Isa resident Abbey Henson, 20, started a page for her 79-year-old grandmother, Dawn Butterworth who had to be evacuated from her Rosslea unit.

“It started flooding and the water got higher and higher every day” Ms Henson said. “She can’t return home, the whole unit will have to be refurbished … she’s literally lost everything including her car, clothing, jewellery and valuables.”

FLOOD CRISIS: PM applauds spirit as “cruel lottery” strikes

FORGOTTEN: Gumlow residents “forgotten” during flood catastrophe

GoFundMe Campaign Organiser Abbey Henson and her 80 year old grandmother who had to be evacuated from her Rosslea unit

Ms Henson has raised $1420 and is hoping to reach $2000.

“She was absolutely devastated so I’ve kept it a surprise … once the $2000 has been raised I will give her a call and let her know how many people helped.”

Not-for-profit organisation GIVIT is also working closely with Townsville City Council to manage charity donations. GIVIT founder and director Juliette Wright said more than 40 Townsville-based charities use the platform, which uses 100 per cent of donations to buy ­essential items for local providers.

“Our goal is to make sure people get what they need but people in need must request what they require through local services and charities,” she said.

Ms Wright said there were two ways to use GIVIT: either to see exactly what is needed or pledge what you have.

“We are getting a lot of ­requests for fuel vouchers, sheets and grocery vouchers … the next phase will be cleaning equipment, safety gear and tools.”

Local Townsville women are also doing their bit, with the ­Mobilised Mums Facebook Group offering flood-affected residents essential supplies.

FLOOD DEATH: Two bodies retrieved from Townsville stormwater drain

EXTRA HELP: More police dispatched to assist Townsville

ASSISTANCE: Financial packages for flood-hit North Queensland now available

Mobilised Mums Founder Roanne Boldery with other volunteers, collecting donations for flood-affected mums

Mobilised Mums founder Roanne Boldery, 35, said more than 150 women had pitched in to gather donations.

“Most of us have a cupboard full of clothes all the time as our children transition between sizes … we have been grabbing bags of clothes to donate,” Ms Boldery said. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of donations in the past 24 hours,” she said.

Flood-affected mothers are encouraged to visit one of two locations – Elle J at Domain or Calvary Christian Church at Bayswater Road – between 9.30am and 4.30pm today to collect essential items such as children’s clothing, toothbrushes and toothpaste, sanitary items, nappies and baby wipes.

For more information visit: https://www.gofundme.com/cause/townsville-flooding; http://www.gofundme.com/guarantee; givit.org.au; https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 360339541227809/

Originally published as Australians are rallying together to support Townsville residents impacted by floods