The Coca-Cola Foundation has announced a new partnership with Australian Red Cross to support vulnerable members of the community to recover from the social and economic impacts of COVID-19.
The Foundation is providing $250,000 to support the Red Cross COVID-19 Care Collective which will provide immediate and long-term emotional care and support for Australians who have been hit hardest by the crisis.
“Keeping our social health and wellbeing strong while we live with COVID-19 is so important,” says Australian Red Cross CEO Judy Slayter.
“When COVID-19 has passed, let’s be in a position where we can look back and celebrate Australia doing its best to build new and creative social resilience at all scales, where we fostered positive behaviours and confidence across the community. Partnerships like these are supporting us to do that.”
The programs will support those most at risk of the impacts of COVID-19 including socially isolated older Australians, people experiencing homelessness, migrants and refugees.
The Care Collective
The Red Cross COVID-19 Care Collective has been formed across business and philanthropic partners to support recovery initiatives including:
- Emergency relief efforts and the delivery of essential services to vulnerable people and communities across Australia.
- Telephone outreach services to offer wellbeing checks on socially isolated and at-risk people (the service is currently supporting 20,000 Australians impacted by the virus).
- Psychological first aid training for staff, volunteers and corporate partners. This program offers immediate help to people navigating the stress of life after a crisis.
Coca-Cola’s efforts
Globally, The Coca-Cola Company, The Coca-Cola Foundation, and local bottlers have pledged over $100 million to support local communities with COVID 19 recovery efforts. This includes over $14 million in donations from The Coca-Cola Foundation to Red Cross projects around the world.
“We are deeply concerned about the growing impact of the novel coronavirus, especially in the most vulnerable parts of our communities,” says The Coca-Cola Foundation President Helen Smith Price said.
“We support the Red Cross COVID-19 Care Collective and its ongoing assistance for Australians hit hardest by this pandemic.”
In addition to the Foundation’s financial support, the company continues to support local communities, employees, and customers in Australia and New Zealand in a variety of ways. This year, Coca-Cola in Australia, together with The Coca-Cola Foundation and the local Coca-Cola Australia Foundation, will deliver support of over $2.5 million to Aussies in need.
“As we emerge from this crisis together, it is vital that the people who are doing it tough receive both immediate assistance and long-term support,” says Coca-Cola South Pacific President Vamsi Mohan Thati.“Beyond this financial contribution from the Coca-Cola Foundation, we look forward to sharing our resources, networks and people to offer additional support where and when it is needed most.”
For more information on The Coca-Cola Company’s work with Red Cross, click here.