The Cook Government has allocated $8.6 million in funding to support drought-affected farmers in Western Australia. As part of this funding package, Rural Aid has received a donation of $75,000 to provide essential supplies and assistance to farming families. Rural Aid has used the donation to deliver 64 tonnes of animal feed, 32 bales of hay, domestic water tanks, as well as counseling and financial aid. Farmers impacted by the drought are encouraged to contact Rural Aid for support. Recently, Rural Aid organized drought resilience events in the South West region of Western Australia to connect with farmers and families. The Cook Government, along with industry stakeholders and the Dry Season Taskforce, will continue to listen to farmers and monitor the situation [4c2e0ce3].
In addition to the support provided by Rural Aid, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) has also been assisting families affected by calamities in Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte. The aid includes P318,431,683.42 for family food packs, P7,073,859.00 for non-food items, and P397,876,640.00 for cash assistance. The distribution of family food packs has reached 474,523 individuals, while non-food items have been provided to around 3,322 affected families. Cash assistance has already been distributed to 39,948 families under the Emergency Cash Transfer program. The DSWD-Davao aims to empower families to decide how best to utilize the funds. Davao Oriental will be followed by Davao de Oro in the distribution of cash aid [3d07e917] [60b898de].
The World Food Programme (WFP) has also received a grant of US$50 million from the Government of Japan to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations in 20 countries affected by conflicts, climate change, and economic crises. The funding will support emergency food distribution, nutrition assistance, and livelihood programs in mainly Asian, Middle Eastern, and African countries. This grant from Japan further strengthens the partnership between WFP and the Government of Japan in addressing food insecurity and providing critical assistance to vulnerable populations in crisis-affected countries [e67b57a9].
Damien’s Food Pantry has recently opened its new location at 242 Marion Road in Wareham, MA. The pantry saw approximately 175 clients on the first day and received positive feedback. The new space is set up like a grocery store, allowing clients to choose their preferred fruits and vegetables. Damien’s Food Pantry was previously $365,000 short of its $2.2 million fundraising goal, but is now close to reaching it. Donations of money, food, and toiletries are still being accepted at the warehouse's door number one. Warehouse Manager Jennifer Polito expressed satisfaction with the successful opening day and the transition to the new space [8bfd1ea6].