How you can help people and animals impacted by the Australia bushfires

The Australia bushfires have been raging for months and relief doesn’t seem to be anywhere in sight. So far, more than five million hectares have burned, 19 people have died, 21 people are missing, and millions of animals have been killed. This is pushing countless species to the brink of extinction.

It’s understandable to feel devastated and helpless in the face of these horrible statistics. Luckily, there are ways each of us can help.

Here’s a list of real things you can do now to help animals and people impacted by the Australia bushfires.

Make a donation

1. To the Australian Red Cross to help with the relief and recovery effort.

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It’s a hard way to end the year, with bushfires threatening lives and homes across the country. We’re partnering with the @ABCnews_au @ABCaustralia and the @cityofsydney to support people affected by disasters. You can donate via the link in our bio. Thank you! #NYE #sydNYE #NYEABC

A post shared by Australian Red Cross (@redcrossau) on Dec 30, 2019 at 6:16pm PST

2. To WIRES (Australian Wildlife Rescue Organization) to help with their efforts to protect and evacuate wildlife.

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WILDLIFE RESCUE ALERT With communication so difficult at this time there will be areas where we cannot get local rescue alerts out to our volunteers. Where alerts are received it may still be impossible for any volunteers to safely respond. In many areas, particularly the South Coast, communication is currently a massive issue. Power outages have knocked out phones and made it impossible to recharge devices and with many telecommunications towers being impacted, many areas also have no or limited mobile reception. In addition many volunteers have either had to evacuate or may need to evacuate their properties. For all community members in fire affected areas, particularly those on the South Coast at this time, please read further emergency advice on our blog at wires.org.au as a guideline to assist any wildlife in need that you find over the next few days. #australiaburns #bushfiresaustralia #wireswildliferescue #wildliferescuealert

A post shared by WIRES Wildlife Rescue (@wireswildliferescue) on Jan 3, 2020 at 7:12pm PST

3. To help The Salvation Army provide meals and support to evacuees and first responders.

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As devastating bushfires continue to burn across Australia and the need for action escalates, our Salvation Army Emergency Services teams remain active in multiple locations across the country. We will continue to provide immediate relief to those affected by the damaging fires and the first responders. And we will stand by communities for as long as it takes to rebuild. "Our amazing teams are tired and impacted by the events, but remain cheerful in their service" said Topher Holland, The Salvation Army’s Emergency and Disaster Management Lead. We would like to acknowledge the significant efforts of @woolworths_au for making sure essential supplies have been available in our evacuation centres. In the words of Topher Holland, Woolworths “…have been amazing across the board.” To donate to The Salvation Army’s Disaster Appeal you can click the link in our bio, call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or donate at any @Woolworths_au checkout nationwide. #salvos #salvationarmy #disaster #bushfire #bushfires

A post shared by The Salvation Army Australia (@salvosau) on Jan 2, 2020 at 6:02pm PST

4. To Food Bank Victoria, so they can continue to provide emergency food relief.

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The Australian Army were in this morning collecting the food, groceries, and water donated by the generous members of the community over the last 48 hours. This emergency food relief is currently on its way to communities in East Gippsland. Thank you all for your overwhelming generosity and support💜

A post shared by Foodbank Victoria (@foodbankvictoria) on Jan 3, 2020 at 6:42pm PST

5. To the NSW Rural Fire Service to directly support firefighters on the ground.

6. To the CFS Foundation to support volunteer firefighters.

Make eco-friendly lifestyle changes

The Australia bushfires are clearly linked to climate change – the national economy is reliant on coal, and local eco-systems are being irreparably damaged (namely The Great Barrier Reef).

Here are some simple ways you can adapt your lifestyle to reduce climate change:

1. Walk or cycle instead of driving
2. Replace single-use plastics with reusable alternatives
3. Eat less meat
4. Shop local
5. Waste less food

Spread the word!

Knowledge is power.

The more people who know about the reality of climate change, the better! Share content like this blog, or posts on social media, with your friends and family.

If all of us make small lifestyle changes with animals and the planet in mind, we truly can make a difference.

For more info on eco-friendly living, check out these other posts:

• 31 ways to be plastic-free every day of the month
• 10 easy ways to introduce “zero waste” into your life 
• The unbelievable easy guide to going vegan
• 5 ways ways to be more mindful of your palm oil use  
• Make these 11 easy swaps to be more eco-friendly