Innovating to help others

Bayside Community Emergency Relief
Hardworking. Generous. Humble

Deb Brook captured the imagination of thousands of people in her community with a Facebook group she started in response to the 2020 bushfires and has gone on to provide crucial mental health support to thousands of children and adults displaced by domestic violence and vulnerable elderly isolated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deb is the founder of the volunteer-run Bayside Community Emergency Relief (BCER). She puts calls out to the community for specific donations, getting the right help to people by supporting organisations on the ground.

Thanks to her vision, the community responded by donating about $1 million worth of specifically requested goods in 2020 alone.

Deb registered BCER as a charity in March 2020 and has continued to help thousands in need by meeting targeted requests from over 29 organisations. BCER supports animal welfare, vulnerable elderly, adults and children fleeing domestic violence, plus other emergencies including bushfire, flood & storm relief.

Deb arranged more than 2,000 comfort packs for elderly people during COVID 2020 and was moved when she received numerous letters of thanks.

Deb was named Bayside Citizen of the year in 2021. She is beyond humbled to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “Being recognised for literally thousands of hours of work is appreciated. It gives me pride to see how thousands of community members have united to proactively help people and wildlife in need,” she says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Bayside Community Relief will use its funds to make over 200 comfort packs for children fleeing domestic violence. These contain essential toiletries and activities to keep their minds occupied.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here