THE generous outpouring of donations to help bushfire affected communities in East Gippsland has seen so many goods and services donated, relief organisations have been unable to get items into communities.

Which is why the State Government has launched a dedicated new fund where you can donate money to help communities decimated by the new year fires.

The fund has been established in partnership with the Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation and the Salvation Army to provide practical support as these Victorians begin to rebuild their lives.

The use of funds will help to meet the most urgent needs of local families covering the cost of everything from a grocery shop to replacing school uniforms.

READ MORE: GIVE GENEROUSLY BUT BEWARE OF SCAMMERS

The appeal will also help address the most immediate priorities of communities, including the rescue and rehabilitation of local wildlife.

Donations to the new fund will be held in a dedicated account overseen by Pat McNamara, former Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

The Government will contribute $2 million to the fund and ensuring impacted families and communities have the support they need right away.

Premier Daniel Andrews said he hoped this fund will help assist families who have shown remarkable courage.

"Through this fund, we'll help make sure that at the very least they don't have to worry about the small but vital things like putting food on the table or getting their kids to school," Mr Andrews said.

To donate, visit vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal

This has been updated. Please find old/expired events at the bottom of the page.

Other ways you can help below.

Join the Ballan Lions Club for their February barbecue on Saturday, February 1 to raise funds needed for bushfire-affected communities.

The club will be donating 100 per cent of all proceeds.

The barbecue will be held on Inglis Street between 9am and 1pm.

Fundraising event on February 1 at 6.30pm at the Victoria Bowling Club, 231 Victoria Street, Ballarat East.

Cost is $15 adult, $5 under 10, which includes meals and dessert. Drinks are available at bar prices.

All proceeds will be donated equally to CFA Victoria, Wildlife Victoria and Taal Volcano victims (after the eruption in the Philippines).

For more information, contact Alma Lapina - 0434 99 1086, Cora Hains - 0408 304 701, Donato Abrigante - 0405 115 536 or Chalo Guevara - 0408 502 943.

A few hair and beauty businesses in Ballarat have teamed up to organise a fundraiser for bushfire victims on February 7 and 8.

There will also be a big raffle with prizes including vouchers and free treatments.

More details here.

Thirty artists have donated works for sale with all proceeds going to the Red Cross and Wildlife Victoria.

All proceeds go to Wildlife Victoria and Australian Red Cross.

962 Daylesford-Trentham Road, Bullarto

For more information, contact 0408 529 725.

A collection of musicians are coming together to help raise funds for the Red Cross Bushfire Relief from 5-10 PM at the Savoia Hotel, Main Road, Hepburn Springs.

Some bands playing are My Flight, Tartie, The Cartwheels and Lunar Dust.

There will also be a silent auction to help contribute to the fundraising effort.

Make bookings here or buy tickets at the door for $20.

Ballarat resident Kay Hodgson has started a Facebook page Rebuild Upper Murray to provide a platform for people to find out how they can help the communities of Corryong and Cudgewa recover from the devastating fire.

Rebuild Upper Murray is promoting a Go Fund Me fundraiser to support Cudgewa and surrounding communities pay for generators, solar, food, building supplies, plumbing and electrical materials and other basic supplies.

Gather My Crew is an Australian charity that provides free technology to help people activate support crews during tough times.

The online roster and communication tool encourages people to identify the help they need and invite their community of friends and family to lend a hand.

Support crews can be set up in a matter of minutes and often run for many months as they adjust to the changing needs of a family.

Visit www.gathermycrew.org.au.

A new website is helping families affected by fire find a temporary place to stay.

Daniel Ferguson, from Snake Valley, created and launched the Helping Homes website on Friday.

READ MORE: New website offers places to stay for families devastated by fire

Residents who wish to open their homes to others in need can list their contact details and rough location on the website.

People who have evacuated or their homes have been destroyed can get in touch and organise arrangements to stay with their family and animals.

Visit helpinghomes.com.au.

Get up close to a koala for a gold coin donation during the park's daily tour and conservation presentations. All money will be donated to WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), which is Australia's largest wildlife rescue organisation.

Zagame's are doing a company-wide (Ballarat, Boronia, Caulfield, Berwick and Reservoir) $1 from every parma in the month of January to go towards bushfire disaster victims.

There are also tins on-site - one for Thankyou Fireys Inc and one for Bendigo Bank which goes to the communities affected.

The Park hotel has the Aussie Parma back on for the month of January. $5 from every Aussie Parma sold will go directly to the Victorian bushfire appeal.

Proceeds from the sale of various biscuits and slices (plus tips) will be donated to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

All staff tips donated to those affected by the bushfires.

All staff tips donated to the CFA.

For the month of January, Webster's Market and Cafe will be donating 10 per cent of all retail sales and $1 from every Webster's Breakfast sold to WIRES. Also, the generous staff will either be donating one day's wage or their monthly tips to The Red Cross Disaster Relief & Recovery Appeal.

For more information, call 5331 2498.

Community raffles each Thursday at North Ballarat Sports Club will support Country Fire Authority.

North Ballarat Sports Club is also collecting spare change and will match dollar-for-dollar all cash donations to also support fire relief via club charity foundation North Cares.

The club is working with PRDnationwide Ballarat as a collection point for food, water and essential toiletries (see items that will be accepted above, under PRD BALLARAT). Items will support Gippsland Farmer Relief and be distributed via Bairnsdale Relief Centre.

Hay bales can also be dropped off at North Ballarat Sports Club.

Drop your donations to North Ballarat Sports Club at Mars Stadium in Creswick Road or call 5339 5944.

Regent Cinemas are running a raffle for a 'Gold Class Screening for 28'. Tickets are available from the Box Office.

For more information, phone 5330 5555.

To anyone wishing to donate, please ensure only the below accepted items are donated:

Food and Toiletry donations only. Please no clothes, only material at this drop off point is for the animals (only needing blankets and towels). Food items must be newly purchased and only what is listed or it will not be accepted. Please no second-hand products - must comply with laws - thank you for understanding.

For more information, phone 5336 4028.

Bendigo-based not-for-profit Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal's disaster resilience and recovery fund will support communities in medium to long-term recovery projects. More details here, frrr.org.au.

Social club The Rustic Rollers is doing all it can for victims of the Victorian bushfires.

For more information or to help, visit the Facebook page here.

- With thanks from https://ballaratbushfirerelief.com.au/

KNOW OF ANY OTHERS? WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW BELOW

Disaster assistance is available to people who have been adversely affected or lost income as a direct result of the Victorian bushfires.

Those who live in the Alpine Local Government Area and who were adversely affected by the bushfires may be eligible for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment.

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is a one-off payment of $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children who have been injured, or for people whose home has been significantly damaged or destroyed as a result of the bushfires.

Children under the age of 16 may also be eligible for the Additional Payment for Children. This is a one-off payment of $400 per child.

People living in the following Local Government Areas may be eligible for the Disaster Recovery Allowance:

Alpine, Ararat, Ballarat, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Indigo, Mansfield, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Wangaratta, Wellington, Wodonga.

This is in addition to the Local Government Areas which are already eligible in Victoria.

Disaster Recovery Allowance is a short-term payment if you have lost income as a direct result of the fires. It's equivalent to the maximum rate of Newstart or Youth Allowance.

The quickest and easiest way to make a claim is by calling 180 22 66.

For more information, click here.

Help provide hygiene kits for firefighters and evacuees.

Each basic kit should contain:

Female specific kits - all of the above, plus tampons or sanitary napkins and hair elastics. Maybe unused lipstick as a treat?

Firefighter-specific kit: please include all of the above items:

Ballarat drop-off point: St Patrick's College Boarding Precinct - enter Via Alfred st, Newington.

January 8, 9 and 10 - 4pm untill 6pm.

For more information, phone 0439 475 803.

$5 from every cheeseburger Griffin Burger sells this week is going to be donated to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

What ever your burger preference, we got you. If you're vegetarian/vegan you can ditch the cheese and swap out the beef for a vegan patty. If you prefer chicken - swap the beef to grilled chicken/fried chicken/crispy chicken. We want everyone eating cheeseburgers this week.

Donations will also be accepted in-store.

100% of all proceeds this week from the hotel's $10 coffee and cake deal between 3-5pm each day will be donated to the CFA. There will also be buckets on the bar to make donations.

Star Wars Luke Skywalker original illustration for sale, with all proceeds going to the Gippsland Farmer Relief.

Ebay listing here.

The Shamrock Hotel in Dunnstown is hosting a Troy Elliot and barbecue night as a bushfire fundraiser on January 10.

Troy Elliot will be kicking off at 7pm, as will a barbecue for a gold coin donation and raffle prizes will also be available.

More details here.

From 6pm in the bar for a mega raffle with tonnes of prizes, auctions, live music, nibbles and donation baskets with all funds raised going to Victorian-based charities.

Regent Cinemas will donate $1 from every ticket sold this Friday, Saturday and Sunday to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and RSPCA Bushfire appeal.

A massive outdoor fitness event is on Saturday at 8am at Eastern Oval to raise money for the Victorian bushfire appeal.

Entrance is $20 with all funds to be donated.

All fitness levels are welcome, including a walkers group and most definitely kids.

Read more here.

Hair Republic, located at 14 Sturt Street is opening to all local hairdressers this Saturday to offer $40 cuts and $30 styling all day from 10am. Every cent raised, will be going directly to the Red Cross. More details are on the salon's Facebook page.

In conjunction with local businesses, the Farmers Arms Creswick is hosting a fundraising event for the local CFA. The event is between 2 and 6pm and consists of a BBQ, drinks and a live auction. This bush fire season has been devastating to so many communities and it has put pressure on our region's CFA Volunteers. Donations of vouchers or prizes, for the auction will be gratefully accepted. 100% of funds raised will go to the CFA.

Visit Saigon Allee in Armstrong Street North between 5pm and 8pm to purchase Bao Buns. All proceeds will be going directly to the Bushfire Disaster Appeal, Foodbank and Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES).

Community raffles each Thursday at North Ballarat Sports Club will support Country Fire Authority.

North Ballarat Sports Club is also collecting spare change and will match dollar-for-dollar all cash donations to also support fire relief via club charity foundation North Cares.

The club is working with PRDnationwide Ballarat as a collection point for food, water and essential toiletries (see items that will be accepted above, under PRD BALLARAT). Items will support Gippsland Farmer Relief and be distributed via Bairnsdale Relief Centre.

Hay bales can also be dropped off at North Ballarat Sports Club.

The club will also host a special bingo fundraising night on January 14. More details to come via the club's Facebook page, @NorthBallaratSportsClub.

Drop your donations to North Ballarat Sports Club at Mars Stadium in Creswick Road or call 5339 5944.

In support of those working to help the thousands affected by the devastating bushfires, Underbar is auctioning a Sunday lunch - the chef's tasting menu and accompanying matched wines for 12 guests.

Get together with your friends and make a bid. Bids start at $3000. Underbar will donate all food and wine and all proceeds will go to the CFA and Australian Red Cross. In addition to proceeds from the winning bid, the team will donate their wages for the day too.

Please email dine@underbar.com.au or message via Facebook or Instagram with your bid before midnight on Sunday January 12, 2020.

$3 from every main meal and pizza sold as well as $1 from every drink sold across the bar.

Midlands Golf Club is raising funds for the Bendigo Bank Bushfire Appeal through bingo for an entire week from Tuesday January 14 to Sunday January 19 - all 9 sessions.

100 per cent of bingo raffle sales is being donated (this is the normal bingo raffle held during sessions - there will be nine prizes of breakopen tickets every session. Only $1 per ticket).

Every book sale counts! 20 per cent of book sale profits is also being donated. A special "Bushfire Appeal" timetable will be played for the fundraiser week.

For more information, call 5331 4400.

Get along to the park in the MacArthur Park Estate at the end of MacArthur Park Blvd between 4.30pm and 6.30pm for an afternoon of favourite sweet treat such as golf balls, muffins, shortbread, biscuits, frogs in ponds. There will also be a BBQ. All proceeds will go towards those affected by the bushfires.

Ballarat's best artists and musicians have come together to create this rapid response concert to raise money for the Victorian Bushfire Disaster Appeal.

All money from ticket purchases (excluding ticketing fees) and the extra donations will be donated to the Bendigo Bank's Community Enterprise Foundation established for the Victorian Bushfires.

The BMI will also have the bar open with all profits from bar sales also being donated to the Bushfire Appeal.

The line-up for the night includes: Motor City Sounds, Vondabouys, Dead Salesmen Duo, St Ivory, Ballarat Ska Union, and more to be announced soon!

We have three stages throughout the night, so you'll be sure to find music that suits your taste!

All artists, musicians and other personnel will be donating their time and services to this cause.

Visit the event page here.

The Deck Ballarat is hosting a bushfire benefits show on January 17 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Tickets are available for a two-hour unlimited gourmet canapes and drinks package where 100 per cent of the ticket sales will be spread amongst four bushfire relief funds including the Salvation Army, Australian Red Cross, NSW Rural Fire Service and the CFA.

There will be DJs, musicians, artists, athletes and more.

TIME: 6:30pm - 8:30pm (Bushfire Relief VIP Package)

COST: $80pp (Great news: All tickets are tax deductible)

DRESS: Smart casual

DRINKS: Beer, wine, selected spirits, cocktails and champagne.

FOOD: Gourmet Canapes and party bites.

A 'silent auction' will be happening from 11am to close.

More details here.

One hundred per cent of the Ballarat Pacing Cup night gate takings on Saturday, January 18 will go to Wildlife Victoria.

Come join us and help us complete our Burpees for the amazing volunteer firefighters battling the severe and catastrophic fires all around Australia.

For the amount of dollars we raise as a total we will complete that number of Burpees at our gym.

To donate and learn more, click here. Please bring a gold coin donation on the day to assist with the fund.

Showbiz Cinemas at Delacombe Town Centre is joining other Australian cinemas and film distributors nation-wide to raise funds for bushfire victims.

$2 from every ticket sold will be donated to three charities - Salvation Army, Australian Red Cross and RSPCA - for their appeals.

Kay Hodgson from CB Fitness is hosting a strongman/woman competition on Saturday January 25 as a fundraiser for towns to recover and rebuild from fire in the Upper Murray region.

It will be held at the Red Lion Hotel from 11am to 1pm.

Funds will be raised through participant entries and spectator ticket sales.

More details here.

First Choice Automotive in Humffray Street South are hosting a BBQ and Cars evening event on Friday January 24.

People are urged to polish up their cars, buy a snag and soft-drink, and mingle. Collection tins will also be about with all money raised going to the Country Fire Authority.

More details here.

The City of Ballarat will also seek donations for Victorian bushfire relief at the Lake Wendouree fireworks on January 26.

More information here.

Ballarat's Old Melbourne Road is raising money to support Mallacoota residents devastated by the recent catastrophic fires at the 'OMR Comeback Gig' at the Munster Arms Hotel on Australia Day.

Old Melbourne Road, an established and popular Ballarat family band, have some of their family members teaching in Mallacoota.

The Munster Arms will also be running a barbecue on the day.

The George Hotel is hosting a fundraising event on Australia Day, January 26, from 12pm to 8pm.

There will be face painting at The Lane from 12pm onwards, live music, Tim Bone's famous toasties, and a silent auction.

If you would like to be apart of this event, donate something (can be as simple as your time) or would like any further information, please get in touch with functions@georgehotelballarat.com.au or call Renee on 0432565570.

More details here.

It has been Australia's lost summer. Drought, hail, floods and, worst of all, bushfires have ravaged communities all over the nation. But the selfless actions of friends, family, neighbours, strangers, local groups and volunteer organisations have inspired us and strengthened the bonds of community. Please join us in saying thanks to the heroes of the home front by sharing your stories of gratitude. To salute a person or a group, please use the form below.