Refugee Group Triples Fundraising Using Stories and Food

The Refugee Council of Australia found a creative way to raise money and help refugees by combining food and storytelling. They created a campaign called 'Share a Meal, Share a Story' where people could host dinners and learn about refugee experiences. Their biggest success was making a digital cookbook filled with recipes from refugees in their community. People could download the cookbook for any donation amount. The cookbook alone raised over $15,000. Overall, they raised three times more money than the year before - about $250,000 during Refugee Week. They also got 300+ cookbook downloads and had 84+ community events. The campaign worked so well because it gave people an easy way to help from home, especially during COVID when people were looking for activities. The cookbook even got media attention on cooking shows, helping them reach more people. Now they're using their success to help refugees move from detention centers to safety in Canada. This shows how organizations can grow their impact by using the right tools and creative ideas that bring communities together.

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