As more than 200 bush fires continue to rage across Australia, during a lengthy and deadly fire season, Prince George crafters are stepping up to help in any way they can.
It's estimated more than half-a-billion animals have died in the fires and, in response to this tragedy, local crafters are getting organized and making items desperately needed by wildlife rescue agencies in Australia.
“There’s all these little orphaned animals,” said Kathy Deaton, owner of Kathy’s Quilt Shop on Fourth Avenue.
“Sewers like to get into these kinds of things because we have a lot of fabric that we want to use and we want to help out and everyone loves animals.”
Deaton says there is a Facebook Group called Canadian Animal Rescue Craft Guild, which has the information about items and patterns that are most needed.
She says about 10 people from her store are sewing, while others are dropping off completed items.
Crafters are making items like bat wraps and joey pouches.
“A joey is any kind of marsupial that lives in a pouch, so that’s what that’s for,” says Deaton. “The patterns aren’t difficult to work with and they are very straightforward. Anybody could do it."
The items made in Prince George will be collected at 4780 Leonard Pl. before they are sent down under.
“It’s a drought in Australia at the moment. That’s the thing that’s affecting everyone and causing the fire’s to be so bad,” says Laurel Hohn, one of Deaton’s customers who lives in Queensland, Australia, but is visiting her daughter in Prince George.
“The good thing about joey bags and koala bags is that they use them all the time, not just when there’s fires on," adds Hohn.
"They have a lot of joeys they help out in that way so the joey bags will never go out of fashion. They change them every day and wash them, bring them back, so they need lots of them — so I think that is a really good initiative.”
More than seven million hectares across the country have burned, killing 28 people, destroying or damaging more than 3,000 homes, and forcing the largest peacetime evacuation in Australia's history.
The two most populated states of New South Wales and Victoria are bearing the brunt of the damage.
Canada has also sent six waves of Canadians to help out, bringing the total number to more than 160 people. The first group of 21 Canadian wildfire experts left for Australia in early December and returned to Canada last week.
If you cannot sew items, the Canadian Animal Rescue Collective also has set up a GoFundMe page.
The donated funds will go towards helping cover any costs in shipping or may be used to buy materials needed to complete projects.
Any remaining funds will be sent directly to vetted shelters and organizations in Australia to help with the increased cost of food and medical supplies.
You can also donate directly to Australia’s RSPCA who are responding to the crisis.
- with files from The Canadian Press
