Last week, fire officials announced that all fires in New South Wales were under control, largely due to a week of heavy rain. It is a victory in the onslaught of terror Australia has faced in light of the bushfires, but there is still much more to be done to recover. Over 44 million acres of land have been destroyed, affecting both the native wildlife and the people who live there.
As students living practically across the globe, distance limits our options to help. We can, however, donate. Once again, as students, money tends to be a problem, but even a dollar donation can go a long way. If you can’t afford it, you can always advocate to other people, whether it be through social media or by word of mouth, about supporting Australia. Here is a list of some organizations to potentially donate to!
Australian Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate
All donations go to funding emergency teams, helping communities affected by the bushfires, and a small amount for essential administration support. The website has a more specific list on ways donations help.
Adelaide Koala Rescue
A volunteer-based organization, all donations will go toward helping rehabilitate displaced koalas and restore habitats for the koalas to return to.
NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service
Donations go toward rescuing, caring for, protecting, and preserving native animals, educating communities on wildlife, and training and supporting rescuers and carers. Just in late January, the organization launched two grants to support volunteers helping wildlife.
Products
All profits (or 50%) earned on these products go toward various efforts assisting with the wildfires. You can look on Google and various social media platforms to find other products, but this is a small list as a starting point. I found all of these on Etsy!
Ferret in a Ramen Bowl Enamel Pin
AVAcado Bracelets (and they’re all made by three 5th grade girls!)