SSI launches online donations site

With many of SSI’s clients living under financial hardship, the organisation took further steps towards supporting their needs by launching its online donations page in time for Anti-Poverty Week in October.

SSI is a registered charitable organisation and all donations over the threshold of $2 are tax-deductible. CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the organisation was increasing its efforts to raise money through a dedicated fund-raising strategy to support its clients. The online donations site was a significant step forward for the strategy, Ms Roumeliotis said, and would allow SSI to receive donations from the public much more easily.

“Surveys of SSI’s case managers show that their asylum seeker clients often live without beds, warm clothes and essential household items such as cookware,” Ms Roumeliotis said. “Sometimes, when times are particularly tough, they need help accessing adequate food. Clients who have babies or are pregnant can be particularly vulnerable and often need support to access essential baby items.

“People who have an affinity for supporting humanitarian causes hear that refugees are struggling with health problems and isolation, and they want to help. One way people can help is through charitable donations that will help SSI fund programs that support these people.

“SSI will be fundraising in multiple ways over the coming months to help these charitable initiatives prosper, and the generous support of the community will be greatly appreciated.”

The donations page on the SSI website links to an encrypted card payment system hosted by Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Ms Roumeliotis said the website was stage one of a donations site that would grow in the future to offer supporters more initiatives and specific needs they could donate to.