ODMA Eyetalk has announced it will donate A$10,000 to the Australian Bushfire Appeal.

“ODMA’s thoughts go out to the families and communities that have lost so much in the devastating bushfires across the entire country. We know that for those Australians who have lost everything, the task of rebuilding their lives will present many, many challenges,” said Finola Carey, ODMA CEO.

Carey said the organisation is aware that some of its own optical community is affected and that many practices and wholesalers are already involved in assistance packages. However, she said, following the advice of The Rural Fire Service the most useful thing people can donate now is money. “There are now pleas for people to stop donating goods directly to overwhelmed fire-affected communities who simply do not have the resources to manage them as the donated goods are creating a second disaster.”

ODMA is asking its member to vote for one of four selected organisations for the distribution of the funds, the Red Cross Disaster & Relief Recovery, The Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal, RSPCA Bushfire Appeal and Wires.