Handmade Help - Victorian Bushfire Appeal - Updated

5000 homeless and fires still raging. Many people have lost their lives. It's just a terrible, huge tragedy. There are lots of ways you can help. Check all the links in the middle column of this page. Or make something for Handmade Help.

Handmade Help is growing all over the internet. You can help too. Here is how:

We are concentrating on a long term donation approach - as donations of clothing and other items are flooding in at the moment.

We would encourage you to make something special to donate to families who will be rebuilding or relocating in the coming months. We are looking for made-with-love items like softies (soft toys), homewares, quilts, clothing... just special things that can become special treasures to people that have lost everything.

Our aim is to collect and distribute donations over a long-term period. Because these people need our LONG TERM support.

I've been advised that The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal will be one of the agencies co-ordinating the Rebuilding of these fire-ravaged communities. We will liaise with them (and also the Red Cross) about the best and timeliest ways to distribute your donations. And also we'll be gathering more detailed information about what is needed as things develop

• Mike's will be acting as a drop-off point for any made-with-love items you may want distributed to victims of the Victorian bushfires. You can deliver or post your 'Handmade Help' to 63 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria.
• Amitie Textiles will also be a collection point for Handmade Help - they are at 281 Centre Road, Bentleigh.
• You can also drop your handmade donations at My Poppet - 717 Glenhuntly Road, Caulfied South too!
  
• If you have a business that could serve as a drop off point, let us know!
• You can find other drop-off points in Victoria and other States here.
  

Items we are collecting :

• Handmade softies and toys, clothing, homewares, quilts and baby items.
• Items for cooler weather would be fantastic too, such as knitted clothing, hats and scarves.
  
• Crocheted and knitted blankets. This is a long term project - and Winter is coming!
• We will collect and store any donations until the time is right to deliver them.

Ebay Auctions:
You can list items for auction on eBay - use the term 'HANDMADE HELP' in your description so we can find them easily. Then visit Handmade Help and email us to let us know you have listed something! We will also post your items up over there with links to eBay so we can find them. There will be also be a running tally and other updates over there! We will have a register of items sold and their sellers over there : we'll also have a schedule of donations (how much was paid, when it was paid, by whom and what method) so you can see where the money is going (and when).


Other ways to help...

• Start your own Handmade Help appeal in your area and collect donations.
• Have a craft night - make goods to donate (or to sell to benefit the Red Cross)
  
• Rayna let us know that if you search on Etsy (using the search term BUSHFIRE) - you can buy items to benefit those affected by the fires. So do that.
• More ways to help over at Pip Stafford's blog
• Sivonne has pointed us to THIS LIST of links detailing the Relief Efforts and more ways to help
• Gemma's friend (and her guy and their baby) lost their home in the fires - she's organising a fundraiser here
• Hollie of Vegan and Vintage will be donating 50% of her etsy sales this month to Wildlife Victoria (and other animal welfare agencies). Wildlife Victoria requires funds to treat fire injured animals and rebuild destroyed shelters. Check her blog for further details.
• Links to lots of different ways to assist here via Poppalina
• You can donate at any Australia Post outlet or Bendigo Bank over the counter
• Pea Soup posted her very personal view of the crisis here - sad and informative too.

MONEY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO GIVE AT THE MOMENT!

To Donate To The Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal - 137258 (13SALVOS)
To Donate To The Red Cross Bushfire Appeal - 1800 811 700

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Please let us know if you have any other ideas on ways we can help - just post in the comments and I'll update this post when I get a chance. Don't forget to donate a few bucks too.


xx Pip

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