Crafting for bushfire recovery - an update on some initiatives

Like so many people, crafters want to help in the recovery from bushfires, and are generous in their efforts. Cash donations have been swift and generous, and will continue to be needed, and crafters are contributing in numerous ways. Here's an update on just a few of the ongoing ways crafters are contributing. Please check updates on the individual groups regularly as needs change, and to find what is needed where, and when groups are unable to receive items ...

Cool the Vollies is an initiative to make and donate cooling cotton neck ties for volunteers. All details and requirements are on the group facebook page.

Wollongong Modern Quilt Guild has called for tree blocks that they will make into quilts for people affected by the fires. All the requirements are available on the Facebook page (6 January 2020 post), as are several design suggestions, and an address for postage. You can also follow the progress of this block drive via Instagram. Some quilters have posted block patterns and tutorials, such as Bonjour Quilts and Happy Sew Lucky



The Animal Rescue Craft Guild is coordinating distribution of crafted items to animal rescue groups through a series of collection hubs, and updates its site very regularly. They have recently imposed a pause on making while they conducted a stocktake. They provide patterns for wildlife pouches and recommendations on fabrics. Please note their post of 21 January explaining the current situation, and their thanks to the many crafters that have helped them reach current goals.

Crafty Adventure's Healing Hands Project is a local drive for new quilts and crocheted or knitted blankets, organised by quilters and designer Paula Storm and Jo Patton, who are located in the Ulladulla area (on the NSW south coast), and will distribute the quilts and blankets locally. Their Facebook post on 3 January gives details, and postal addresses for donations.

Piccolo Studio has shared free patterns/tutorials for wildlife rescue pouches on their website, Faceook page and via a private Facebook group, as well as writing patterns for the Animal Rescue Craft Guild.

WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.) 

... is Australia's largest wildlife rescue organisation. WIRES mission is to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same. WIRES works under a license issued by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (www.wires.org.au).

The WIRES fact sheet on pouches are here: www.wires.org.au/wildlife-info/wildlife-factsheets/making-possum-pouches

There are other ways of contributing, for example, one of our members gathered a group of friends and sewed 20 rescue pouches last weekend - they posted a photo on Instagram and were immediately contacted by a small animal rescue group in regional NSW who asked if they could have them, and they have been posted off to a group tat definitely needs them right now.