How can I help with the Australian Bushfires?
With the Australian bushfires burning more than 6.3 million hectares (recorded as of the 5th January 2020) and showing no signs of slowing down, the Prime Minister of Australia has declared a state of emergency in NSW. The extent of damage caused is beyond imaginable with multiple human casualties, millions of fauna lost and thousands of lives changed forever.
For those who feel compelled to help in some way or not, you may be asking where can I assist?
Financial donation is often the best way to contribute as it will be allocated to a pool of resources that will assist with the provisions necessary for the brave firefighters (most of which are volunteers), the victims of the fires and to the organisations protecting the wildlife and animals.
The Victims of the Fires
The Red Cross
The Red Cross doesn't have a specific bushfire fundraiser, but it's raising money through its Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund to assist the victims who have lost everything.
Please help by donating to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund
The Salvation Army
The Salvos have launched a disaster appeal to support the communities affected by the devastating bushfires.
“Our teams are providing meals to evacuees and frontline responders, and will continue to provide whatever support is needed as the situation develops,” said Strategic Emergency and Disaster Management general manager, Major Topher Holland.
To donate to the disaster appeal, you can call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58), donate at any Woolworths checkout, or donate online.
The Fire Fighters
These fires aren't exclusive to a single state of Australia and span across Australia with many fronts of 'firies' fighting to contain the fires. Donations to fire fighters directly benefit the volunteer fire fighters putting their lives at risk. To donate to each state's fire association here is a quick list:
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
The Wildlife
The loss of animal life in these fires is estimated to be half a billion (as of 5th January 2020). It is estimated that 30% of NSW's koala population has been eliminated and there's a risk that many Australian native animals could become extinct. Australia has a rich diversity of mammals, with over 300 native species. The continent is uniquely dominated by marsupials and is the only great land mass to contain three major groups of living mammals: marsupials, monotremes (egg-laying platypus and echidna) and placentals.
Many animal shelters have been setup by organisations such as the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Services (WIRES) to nurse and rehabilitate the animals that have been rescued but these shelters are currently overpopulated and under resourced. Volunteers have taken animals home and they need your help with provisions and resources to nurse these animals back to health.
To help the wildlife of Australia you can donate to the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES).
What is Hervor Doing to Help?
The news has deeply saddened everyone at Hervor to hear about the loss of lives & property and the widespread environmental damage. Apart from our private donations, Hervor will be donating 50% of all profits made in the month of January to the victims of the bushfires (via the Red Cross Disaster Relief & Recovery Fund) to assist those in need to get their lives back on track. Please give generously where we can and take care of each other.
Our thoughts are with those affected,
Jack and Emma
Founders of Hervor