While Christmas is traditionally a season of giving in Australia, in the national capital the spirit of giving peaks during the Hands Up for Canberra Giving Day (or 48 hours, to be precise) in the lead up to Canberra Day. “A day where everyone in Canberra gives where they live,” says Hands Across Canberra CEO and co-founder Peter Gordon.

The culmination of this year’s month-long Canberra Day Appeal which launched on 6 February, the Hands Up for Canberra Giving Day is underway today and tomorrow, 6-7 March, ahead of the Canberra Day long weekend.

Run by Hands Across Canberra (the ACT’s independent community foundation), the Appeal is Canberra’s largest fundraising drive.

It’s a time of hope and generosity when Canberrans are being asked to ‘give where they live’ and this year help raise $1 million for local charities that make a positive difference in people’s lives right here in the ACT.

Mr Gordon said last year’s Appeal raised $800,000 thanks to the incredible generosity of the Canberra community and is confident this year’s “magic million” target can be reached.

The Appeal supports 360 local charities and community organisations and the tens of thousands of people they work with.

Speaking at today’s Giving Day launch, Hands Across Canberra Board Chair, Greg Boorer, said Canberrans are among the most generous people in Australia. However, 85 per cent of their charitable donations go to causes outside the ACT region and the foundation is keen to see a bigger slice of the pie redirected here to nourish local organisations that support vulnerable Canberrans.

“We want a bit more of that generosity from everyday Canberrans to stay here,” Mr Boorer said.

And while Canberra is generally perceived as an affluent community, around 38,000 local people are living in poverty, almost 10,000 of whom are children; one in 100 people are homeless, soaring 70 per cent in recent years to be among the highest rates of homelessness in Australia; and one in seven households struggle to survive on a minimum income.

For Domestic Violence Crisis Service CEO Sue Webeck, any extra funds raised through the Canberra Day Appeal will assist DVCS meet demand for their services which has increased more than 30 per cent in recent years.

Ms Webeck said that thanks to an anonymous donor, every $1 donated to DVCS will become $2 with matched funding available for the first $5,000 raised ($10,000 in total).

Food rescue charity OzHarvest Canberra has also seen demand for their service increase exponentially as more people struggle to put food on the table due to rising costs and mortgage stress.

Last year, 31 per cent of people sought assistance from OzHarvest Canberra for the first time – including two-income households – while demand rose by 73 per cent in May 2023 alone, said Canberra city manager Bin Barnier.

But like many of the vulnerable Canberrans OzHarvest helps, “we’ve got pretty much a hand-to-mouth existence,” Ms Barnier said.

Any donations directed to OzHarvest through the Canberra Day Appeal will stay local and help nourish our community, she said.

Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run

For the first time this year, the ACT Government will hold the inaugural Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run on the Monday public holiday, 11 March, as part of the Enlighten Festival, with proceeds going to the Appeal.

“We hope Canberrans will join us on Canberra Day for a 2km, 5km or 10km run or walk before enjoying a day of music, food and family-friendly entertainment at Commonwealth Park from 10am to 5pm,” Mr Gordon said.

Tickets are available via enlightencanberra.com/program/canberra-day-appeal-fun-run

Mr Gordon urged Canberrans to get behind the Canberra Day Appeal.

“You can donate to one charity close to your heart, enter the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run, or donate to Hands Across Canberra and we will ensure your donation goes to supporting the 360 local charities and community organisations in our network.”

To donate to a charity close to your heart – and definitely close to home – through the Canberra Day Appeal, visit giving.handsacrosscanberra.org.au/canberra-day-appeal-2024