Recovering from the Australia Wildfires: Where You Can Donate
Wayne Elsey
Social Entrepreneur | Funds2Orgs | Sneakers4Good | Fundraising | Reuse & Recycling Expert | Elsey Enterprises | Premier Brand Strategist | Author | Speaker I Top 200 Philanthropists I Forbes Contributor
As I'm writing this, the world has watched the devastation of wildfires in Australia and right now they are still in recovery. I've heard that Australians have used some of the following words for this tragedy: biblical, cataclysmic, and calamitous. Whatever words you choose, what's happened in Australia is devastating for the country and also the world.
The following points represent just a bit of what’s transpired so far:
· More than 1,200 homes have been destroyed.
· 28 people have died, including firefighters.
· Over 10 million hectares (more than 38,610 square miles have been scorched).
· The lives of over 1 billion animals have been extinguished. (I don't know about you, but it's tough to wrap one's mind around a number that large).
On a scale of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
The sheer size of the destruction that continues to occur with the Australian wildfires reminds me of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. As you might recall, most people were home or vacationing with their families. And, without any warning, it seemed as if the world turned upside down when that natural disaster happened. More than 250,000 people lost their lives. And, countless others lost everything they owned when a wall of water measuring more than 100 feet just wiped everything away.
It was that tragedy that spurred me to change the course of my life. And, I’m sure that somewhere there’s someone who seeks to help people and animals today as the Australian wildfires rage. Before I get to the places where you can donate, I'd like to remind you that every one of us can make a difference. Even if you can only spare $1, that's added to the collective pot. People have asked me where they can support the efforts in Australia. So, I want to share with you some of the charities where you can donate.
Places where you can contribute to help against the Australia wildfires
If you want to help the people, animals and of course, the first responders who voluntarily leave their families, please take a look at these places.
The WWF is one of the global nonprofits leading the efforts to support wildlife. Because of the devastation, whole habitats are getting destroyed. And, one of the most iconic animals in Australia, the Koala, can become extinct because of the tragedy.
The Rural Fire Brigades help people in their local communities. Many people in Australia support the brigades in their communities because they are the first line of defense. The New South Wales Fire Brigade is working in fighting the fires, doing rescue, and also providing hazmat services.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is a volunteer and community-based firefighter group. They also provide emergency services in their local communities. This organization is one of the world's largest volunteer firefighting groups, and they are serving in the frontlines as well in the Australia wildfires.
For so many years, the Red Cross has been front and center helping people in need. And, they are again a leader in helping people affected by the Australian wildfires. If you want to help families affected by this tragedy, consider the Australian Red Cross.
Finally, I mentioned earlier the iconic Koala. These beautiful animals are in danger because their habitats are getting destroyed. Koalas need trees to survive. So, if you want to ensure the habitat for this animal, support the foundation or even plant a tree.
? 2020 Wayne Elsey. All Rights Reserved.