How to donate to the Australian Bushfire Crisis

Australia has always had bushfires but the ones raging in our country's east are like nothing we've seen before. Like everyone, we've both been watching the news and social media and been shocked by the sheer size and verocity of the fires. 

Feeling helpless here in Perth, as people and animals alike are fleeing for their lives, we went looking for the best place to donate money and goods and became a little overwhelmed by the options. 

We have chosen to donate money individually to charities that resonate with our own families but Mr Poppins+Co will also donate 10% of all online sales taken in the month of January. 

Here's the list of charities that we have discovered in our search for ways to contribute:

DONATE MONEY

• Celeste Barber's 'Please Help Any Way You Can. This is Terrifying,' NSW Fires Campaign Click Here
• The Salvos are feeding firefighters and evacuees, and answering the needs of communities: Click Here or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or donate at any Woolworths checkout.
• Australian Red Cross doesn't have a specific bushfire fundraiser, but it's raising money through its Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund: Click Here
• Community Enterprise Foundation - This appeal is run by Bendigo Bank's charitable arm and will initially focus on raising funds for communities in East Gippsland, north-east Victoria, south-east NSW and the Adelaide Hills. Click Here
• Vinnies - The charity is currently running appeals for NSW, Queensland and South Australian bushfire and drought victims. Click Here
• Gippsland Farmer Relief Click Here
• Foodbank - Click Here
• 28 by Sam Wood has created a go fund me page directly benefitting Australian Red Cross Society and is donating $1000 for every $5000 donated. Click Here

DONATE TO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

• Victoria's Country Fire Authority: Click Here
• NSW Rural Fire Service: Click Here
• SA CFS Foundation:Click Here
• Support the families of fallen fire fighters directly: Click Here

DONATE TO WILDLIFE CARE

• WIRES: Click Here
• RSPCA Bushfire Appeal: Click Here
• Koala's In Care: Click Here
• The Rescue Collective: Click Here
• Port Macquarie Koala Hospital: Click Here
• Volunteer as an animal carer in NSW: Click Here
• Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild: Click Here
• Currumbin Wildlife Hospital: Click Here

Other things you can do for wildlife if you are safe but in the vicinity:

• Leave bowls of water outside for animals and birds escaping fires. Use shallow bowls with a few sticks or stones on one side to allow smaller animals to escape if they fall in.
• Keep a cardboard box and towel in the boot of your car in case you find an injured animal that you can safely contain without putting yourself in any danger.
• If you find an animal, don’t feed it but wrap it loosely in cotton fabric, place it in a ventilated box with a lid and keep it in a dark, quiet place and call WIRES 1300 094 737 or your nearest vet.
• If you own a swimming pool and live near where fires are burning, drape something over the edge of your pool or stack bricks or stones besides steps so that animals have a surface to grab hold of and climb out.
• If you own fruit trees remove netting so they they can share produce. 

DONATE YOUR TIME, GOODS AND SERVICES

• Foodbank - Cash donations are preferable, but the organisation is also accepting good quality tinned food (with ring pull), UHT milk, and items that are easy to "grab and go" like muesli bars, cereals, biscuits and pantry staples, pet food and personal hygiene products. Click Here
• Givit - the public can register the items they have, in case someone has use for them, including children's toys and even socks. Click Here
• Volunteer Click Here
• Donate blood Click Here
• Register with Find A Bed Click Here
• Offer housing via AirB&B Click Here
• Help out Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild: Click Here
• Sew pouches for injured animals: Click Here

SHOP

• Support the businesses registered with Buy from the Bush or Spend with them
• Shop with businesses who are donating a percentage of sales.

PARTICIPATE

• Recycle bottles and cans through Bottles for the Bush - Ten cents will be donated for every eligible bottle or can recycled at a Return and Earn (NSW) or Containers for Change (QLD) reverse vending machine until 23 February 2020.

 

Stay safe and give generously.

Love Terri + Dory