The 200KLunchClub initiative hopes to see members of the media, marketing, advertising and creative industries forgo a lunch, coffee or drink and instead donate the funds this month to flood-impacted First Nations people.
The money raised will help get food, medical and emergency supplies directly into the hands of First Nations people impacted by the Northern River floods. The initiative is in response to a call out for much-needed help from renowned Aboriginal artist Konstantina (Mullumbimby resident).
UnLtd Ambassadors for Good Alumni, Emmalee Crellin (Yahoo) and Jade Harley (Kaimera), answered the call by creating a fundraising campaign that ad-land can get behind.
Participants are being encouraged to forgo a lunch, coffee, or drinks session at your office or out and then donate whatever you would have spent to support the flood recovery effort of the Northern Rivers or to hold a lunch and donate as well.
All donations go directly to the on-ground funding facilitators, the Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre, who are distributing food, medicine, emergency housing and clean up supplies to more than 3,000 Bundjalung Nation people, impacted by the floods.
The largest single donation to the 200KLunchClub will secure an exclusive piece of artwork from renowned, contemporary Aboriginal Artist, Konstantina, valued at over $20,000
Konstantina said: “The Northern Rivers, known as the Bundjalung Nation, has been hit hard by the record-breaking floods. The whole community has been devastated, none more than our First Nations people. The deluge has destroyed two of the biggest concentrations of our mob, with Cabbage Tree Island Mission declared a demolition zone. These people have been told it could be more than 2 years before they have permanent housing.
“We have women and children sleeping in tents in sewage-soaked backyards and in some cases more than 20 people couch surfing at friends’ places. The heroes have left, and the recovery effort is dragging. We need your help, and we need it now,” she added.
Crellin and Harley said of the 200KLunchClub: “Thanks to our roles as UnLtd Ambassadors for Good, we know that when the ad industry unites the collective power is phenomenal. As an industry we are lucky enough to enjoy long lunches where the food is plentiful, and the drinks are flowing.
“We are asking the media and advertising community to pull together, give up a fancy lunch or dinner and instead donate what they would have spent, to those most effected by the floods,” they added.
This initiative comes after the Seven Network, Nine and Network 10 united for a star-studded telethon, Australia Unites: Red Cross Flood Appeal which raised more than $25 million last week.