Ingram Micro organises charity day for Victoria Bush fire victims

All monies raised will go towards the Red Cross Appeal for victims of the Bush fires in Victoria.

"So many of our staff have indicated to me how this tragedy has affected them," said Raquel Casswell, HR director at Ingram Micro.

"With a natural disaster of this scale, there is a real sense of helplessness and of wanting to somehow help.

"With this in mind, Ingram Micro has invited all associates to participate in a 'Victorian Bushfires Appeal' on the 11^th of February to remember the victims and collect donations from wearing casual clothes.

"The company will at least match what our staff donate and pass all proceeds onto the Red Cross appeal," she added.

The vendor is not the only company to rally around for support amongst the channel.

Mark Winter of Computers Off Australia, based in Queensland, is calling upon other companies to use their contacts in the channel to provide victims with free secondhand or brand new computers, or free software licensing.

"I have been moved and disturbed by the tragic events that have unfolded over the last few days in Victoria and I would like to reach out to you to find out if you are doing anything to help these victims from an IT related scenario," he said.

"I believe that we as an industry should be able to work together to offer some help to those that have lost all they own and in some cases family members," added Winter.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) will also offer support free-of-charge in three areas - salvaging lost photos, making insurance claims, and advice for financial recovery - to victims of the Victorian bush fires.

Three of MMC's operating companies in Australia - Mercer, Marsh and Kroll Ontrack - are providing this practical support to aid fire victims in the process of rebuilding their lives.
  
"Precious family photos and the memories they hold cannot be replaced by insurance, but we may be able to help by recovering digital files for fire victims," said Adrian Briscoe, general manager for Kroll Ontrack, APAC.

"Knowing that photos of loved ones can be recovered may provide some hope for the many Victorians that have lost all of their belongings in these fires."  
 
Kroll has helped victims from the North Queensland floods, Hurricane Katrina and the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster in the US to recover their digital photos from damaged hardware.

Mercer will make investment consultants available to provide, free of charge, general financial advice on how to reposition investment portfolios to aid in a financial recovery.

Marsh, the insurance broker and risk adviser, will offer its assistance free of charge to any business, not currently represented by a broker, that has sustained bushfire damage.

These businesses can contact Marsh with general queries and for assistance with lodging claims.
 
According to Marsh Pacific CEO, David Bidmead, people are facing incredible challenges at this time and in offering these services, it  hopes to ease some of their burden and navigate the insurance claims process.