Claire Buchtmann with the new TM7 Thermomix prize up for grabs. Now she just wants people to buy a raffle ticket. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
A local mum blames rising fuel prices and the cost of living for slow raffle ticket sales, and she’s facing a financial whack if she can’t sell enough tickets.
Claire Buchtmann’s problems started when she offered to run a raffle to raise money for another mum’s son and his team who made it into the Southern Sports Academy and could use some financial help to get to upcoming tournaments.
Claire has successfully run many raffles over the years to help community groups and thought this time would be the same, especially with a $2,600 top-of-the-range Thermomix TM7 up for grabs.
“I’ve been doing this for 12 years in October, and I’ve run probably a dozen of these raffles and never had a problem selling the tickets,” Claire said.
After weeks of advertising, however, ticket sales barely budged. Claire is looking down the barrel of having to buy the Thermomix herself and give it away as a prize.
Claire posted a “please help” request on Facebook.
Claire Buchtmann’s social media post desperately seeking people to buy raffle tickets to help young local rugby players. Image: Claire Buchtmann/Facebook.
“I was super stressed ’cause we’d only sold 26 tickets last week and I really wanted to make it work, so it was a case of, you know what, I’m just going to be really honest with people and say that I’m really desperate to make this happen for the SSA boys,” Claire said.
“Now the draw is Tuesday, 31 March, and we need to sell these tickets!”
Claire’s predicament is part of a wider community crisis.
According to the Federal Government’s peak body that monitors annual information statements from charities Australia-wide, the Australian Charities and Not For Profit Commission, cost-of-living pressures have created a “perfect storm” with surging demand for services, rising operational costs, and stagnant or declining donations.
The Commission found overall revenue is being outpaced by inflation and surging expenses as more people seek help for the first time, meanwhile 40 per cent of donors are cutting back on donations.
A new report, Unlocking Generosity from the Minderoo Foundation, highlights the low level of charitable giving conversations in Australia, which is fueling a “generosity gap” where our donations, as a share of GDP, are less than half those of New Zealand and the United States.
However, economic modelling within the report indicates that Australia could unlock between $7 billion and $12 billion in extra donations between now and 2030. If achieved, this would see individual donations rise by 34 to 49 per cent above today’s level, moving Australia ahead of the United Kingdom in giving as a share of GDP.
Right now in Wagga, though, Claire Buchtmann needs to break even and sell the tickets, and she is hoping Region Riverina readers will help before the prize is drawn on Tuesday, 31 March.
To donate or buy a raffle ticket to help Claire help local boys play Southern Sports Academy Rugby, visit Rafflelink.
