In response to the hardship experienced by local communities following Cyclone Marcia, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities (BSC) today donated A$250,000 to the Salvation Army to provide much needed support to those affected.
The funding will go toward the recently launched Salvation Army “Fill a Fridge” initiative with all funds used to provide essential food and household items to community members in central Queensland impacted by Cyclone Marcia.
The Salvation Army’s Major Colin Maxwell said that the organisation had been busy feeding up to 900 people a day since the cyclone and the funding from BSC would go a long way in helping those in need get back on their feet.
“The Salvation Army is always concerned for people in need and the impacts of Cyclone Marcia have meant that some people are in need of basic food and other necessities that they simply can’t afford,” Major Maxwell said.
BHP Billiton President, Coal, Mike Henry, commented, “BHP Billiton is committed to our Queensland communities and it’s important that we’re able to provide support to those members of our communities who have been impacted by events such as the recent cyclone.”
Mr Henry said that, in addition to BSC’s $250,000 donation, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), which has coal operations in central Queensland, also provided seven generators to help address ongoing power outages in the Yeppoon area.
“Many of our employees live in these communities and our people at BMA are on the ground and continuing to work with local Disaster Management Groups across affected areas to assess what further support can be provided,” Mr Henry said.
As well as the A$250,000 donation, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities will donate two dollars for every one dollar donated by an employee through the BHP Billiton Matched Giving Program.