The Australian bushfires, which have been burning since September; in mere months, an estimated one billion animals and 25 humans have been killed, and 12.35 million acres of land containing approximately 2,000 homes have been incinerated.  Experts are saying that climate change is playing a big part in what has ignited these devastating fires but the more I researched, this is what I found:

What provided the spark that ignited this tinderbox? According to USA TODAY, two dozen people have been accused of deliberately lighting some of the fires, including a teenage volunteer firefighter.

I don’t know how these people can live with themselves.  The good news in all of this is that people across the country are coming together to help.  I’ve put together a list of different ways you can donate should you want to help out.

Australian Red Cross – redcross.org

First Nations Communities – https://au.gofundme.com/f/fire-relief-fund-for-first-nations-communities

Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal – frrr.org.au

GIVIT Non-profit — givit.org.au/disasters

Housing – cfa.vic.gov.au

WIRES The New South Wales-based Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc., Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organization – wires.org.au

Koala Hospital Port Macquarie – koalahospital.org.au/shop/donation

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital – wildlifewarriors.org.au

Wildlife Victoria Non-profit – wildlifevictoria.org.au

RSPCA Australia: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Australia, the nation’s leading animal welfare charity – https://www.rspca.org.au/blog/2020/how-help-animals-during-bushfire-crisis

Zoos Victoria Non-profit – donate.zoo.org.au/donation

Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park – https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-kangaroo-islands-koalas-and-wildlife

World Wildlife Fund Australia – donate.wwf.org.au

Animal Rescue Craft Guild – https://www.facebook.com/groups/arfsncrafts/about/

St. Vincent de Paul Society – https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw

Australian Koala Foundation – This foundation allows you to “adopt” a koala through a symbolic foster program; your monthly fee funds protection efforts for wild koalas. You can also pay to “plant a tree” to help restore koala habitat. The foundation is also asking that Koala lovers to write letters to politicians in support of the Koala Protection Act.

New South Wales Rural Fire Service – https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/support-your-local-brigade

CFS Foundation – https://cfsfoundation.org.au/donate

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.

Thomas and I have donated and have talked about me going to Australia to help but according to USA TODAY, I would need natural disaster training – Most emergency response organizations require volunteers to have training before participating in relief efforts. While booking a ticket to Sydney might not be the most effective way to help, you can still sign up for a training session to help out in the future. This is something to think about!