Australian Bushfires - 12 Ways to help

Many of my amazing overseas LinkedIn connections have been asking me how they can help and offering everything from skill and labour, food, clothing and bedding to financial support.

The overall offers for assistance have been overwhelming as widely reported in the media, to the extent that at this stage, material donations have been so prolific they have generated another problem - a logistical challenge in managing the items donated.

To that end, it seems that the best was to contribute at this stage is financial. The rebuilding process will take considerable time and is being co-ordinated by a number of groups and organisations with the oversight and support of the federal and state governments.

Here are twelve ways to donate if you would like to add your contribution to the recovery process.

1. Australian Red Cross Disaster Recovery and Relief

The Red Cross supports a variety of efforts such as supporting people at evacuation centres and providing emergency assistance like cash grants to people who have lost their homes

https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate

2. GIVIT is an Australian organization that matches donated goods with items that are specifically requested by victims of the fires. People have asked for things like car batteries, fence posts and gas pumps.

https://www.givit.org.au/

3. Salvation Army Disaster Appeal

Salvation Army team members are providing meals to first-line responders and evacuees, as well as any other support needed, Major Topher Holland, the organisation’s General Manager of Strategic Emergency and Disaster Management, said in a statement.

https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/donate/make-a-donation/donate-online/?appeal=disasterappeal

4. St Vincent de Paul Society Bushfire Appeal (NSW)

Vinnies’ bushfire appeal helps provide food, clothing and money that bushfire victims may need to pay their bills.

https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw

5. NSW Rural Fire Service

You can either donate straight to the NSW RFS or to your local Rural Fire Brigade to support volunteer firefighters.

https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/about-us/sponsorship

6. Country Fire Authority (CFA), Victoria

Like the NSW RFS, you can donate either to a specific brigade or provide a general donation.

https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa#donate-cfa

7. The Victorian Bushfire Appeal

The Victorian Government teamed up with The Salvation Army and Bendigo Bank for the appeal, with all funds going to communities in need.

https://www.vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal

8. The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

The organisation has a GoFundMe page that seeks funding for Koalas affected by the bushfires.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-thirsty-koalas-devastated-by-recent-fires

9. WIRES

NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) rescues and cares for animals and is seeking donations for volunteer carers and rescuers that are “inundated” with them amid the bushfires.

https://www.wires.org.au/donate/emergency-fund

10. Facebook and GoFundMe

Several people have organized fund-raisers on social media or GoFundMe pages to help people in need. Celeste Barber, an actor and comedian, started a fund-raiser on Facebook for The Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund. It has already generated more than $26 million. Dacre Montgomery, who starred in Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” started a GoFundMe page. The money raised, which tallies more than $250,000, is earmarked for the Australian Red Cross.

11. Airbnb

Airbnb is offering free temporary housing for the displaced in homes in New South Wales south of Sydney, and in Melbourne and its suburbs.

https://www.airbnb.com.au/openhomes/disaster-relief/bushfire-new-south-wales-2020-01

https://www.airbnb.com.au/openhomes/disaster-relief/victoriabushfires20

12. Save the Children is accepting donations to support their child-friendly evacuation centers in Wagga Wagga in New South Wales and in Bairnsdale in Victoria. The spaces are providing support and relief to children and families as they focus on recovery and rebuilding.

https://www.savethechildren.org.au/donate/more-ways-to-give/current-appeals/bushfire-emergency

I am sure there are many more, this was more as a way for me to have list to quickly share.

Please add any more option in the comments.