UFBA Benevolent Fund Firefighters Earthquake Appeal Going Global
9th March 2011Already the New Zealand Fire Service Commission and many brigades and individuals around the country have generously rallied around the UFBA Benevolent Fund Firefighters Earthquake Appeal. Now the UFBA is turning its sights toward the global fire and rescue community while continuing to promote within New Zealand.
“The international fire and rescue community has taken a huge interest in the disaster in Christchurch,” says George Verry, UFBA Chief Executive Officer. “We’ve received messages from around the world expressing good wishes for the firefighters affected by the earthquake.”
“Our firefighters are struggling for many different reasons. We’ve had a steady stream of applications for financial assistance, and we expect that will continue as our people, who have been hard at work, begin to assess how the quake has affected their families, their livelihoods, and their posessions.”
“We now have the capability of accepting credit card payments through our website, and we believe donations from overseas will put us in a position to do more for those in need.” Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) has come on board to support the fund, and will be waiving all transaction fees so that 100% of funds can go directly to the firefighters in need.
When the first earthquake struck in September, a joint welfare group consisting of representatives of both the New Zealand Fire Service and United Fire Brigades’ Association was set up to manage welfare initiatives. That arrangement has now been reinforced and the welfare group will continue to work alongside the UFBA Benevolent Fund trustees to administer funds collected through the Firefighters Earthquake Appeal.
To make a donation, go to www.ufba.org.nz.