If ever there has been a time to reflect on the resilience and generosity of our community, it is now.
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The unpredictable and catastrophic impact of COVID-19 has infiltrated every part of our lives - our jobs, our relationships with family and friends and the functions of our communities that many previously took for granted.
It is during the darkest hours that communities bind together, work on ways to resolve our problems and support those in need.
Often our first response is to seek those we trust most - our families and our friends.
But recent generations in Australia have never been faced with circumstances which have prevented us reaching out to those we love and care about in person.
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The heartbreaking stories of loved ones being farewelled via video funerals or the alarming reports of the deterioration of people's financial and mental health has weighed heavily on our communities.
Yet, the stories of how we have responded to the health and human crisis that COVID-19 created confirms that while we have been battered, we are far from defeated.
Through the not-for-profit and philanthropic sectors, we have seen an incredible outpouring of giving this year with people in our community who have been prepared to put others' needs ahead of their own.
Many charities rely upon events and grassroots fundraising to drive programs and projects which fill gaps of need that governments cannot meet.
At the Ballarat Foundation, we have not been immune to the impact of the virus.
But we have changed - as have so many others - to create opportunities for online giving through virtual events and drive new ways of engaging with our partners to support projects and programs which have been vital to keeping individuals and families out of severe disadvantage.
Every fortnight during the pandemic, the Ballarat Foundation, in a partnership with the Salvation Army and Ballarat Community Health, has delivered hundreds of food parcels and additional staples to schools and universities across the region.
This partnership, supported by local and national donors, was established amid the first COVID-19 wave in Victoria as it became clear many students who have never had to access social supports were in need.
The food parcels are being delivered, in part, by volunteers from the TAC L2P Learner Driver program which is operated in our region by the Ballarat Foundation.
Local donors, local partners, local volunteers - all pulling together to meet a community need.
It is during the darkest hours that communities bind together ...
It is impossible not to be incredibly proud when you see responses such as this, but it is just one example of the amazing work which is happening across the not-for-profit and support service sectors in Ballarat.
Many of the organisations which have been finding new ways to support their operations and activities have been severely impeded by reductions in donations or the necessary government-imposed restrictions on service delivery - some performed by volunteers - due to COVID19.
This year the Ballarat Foundation has distributed more than $200,000 to not-for-profit and community groups and projects to support this activity.
We have done so knowing that for many people it is simply not possible to balance the home or business budgets.
In many respects we are ending 2020 with a positive glint in our eyes.
The community's commitment to beating COVID-19 has us in a position which is the envy of many across the world. The hopes for a vaccine are rising.
However, the outlook for 2021 for not-for-profits and philanthropic organisations remains challenging.
The Outlook for Philanthropy report from leading funds manager JB Were suggests donations will fall in 2021 by up to 12 per cent, taking the level of funds to 2012 levels.
This will create further challenges for organisations which are vital to reducing disadvantage in communities such as ours.
But strategies to deal with these challenges are already being developed in Ballarat.
On Tuesday, December 1, a partnership of Ballarat organisations is coming together with a new avenue to promote giving.
Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, the Ballarat Health Services Foundation, the 3BA Christmas Appeal, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale and the Ballarat Foundation have joined the first Giving Tuesday Ballarat.
Giving Tuesday is a worldwide day aimed at uniting with a common goal of giving - whether that be time, money or support.
Our local partnership recognises that together we are stronger than the sum of our parts. We have a common belief that a united Ballarat is a stronger Ballarat.
We know there are difficult times ahead in 2021, but we stand ready to respond.
Andrew Eales is the chief executive officer of the Ballarat Foundation - to donate go to www.ballaratfoundation.org
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