Bushfire Action: How to Help
- Words by Peppermint
It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed and helpless at the scale and severity of the current bushfire emergency. But by rising up together and all pitching in, we show humanity at its finest. There are so many places who need support right now, so we’ve gathered together just some of the people and organisations who are providing direct, tangible help to those on the ground.
Foodbank. Australia’s largest hunger relief organisation is sending food and water to the areas that need it, with interstate donations passed directly to fire-affected communities in NSW and Victoria. Whilst they always welcome food donations, after being overwhelmed at the volume of goods, they’re now asking people to prioritise the giving of funds. Thanks to our amazing community who took part in our Brisbane FoodBank drive – you all rock!
Animal Rescue Craft Guild. Part of the Animal Rescue Collective, the Craft Guild are asking for people to knit, crochet and sew items including koala mittens, bat wraps and joey pouches for injured and displaced wildlife.
Spend With Them. Burns survivor and motivational speaker Turia Pitt has launched ‘Spend With Them’ – an Instagram account featuring businesses from fire-affected communities. This was inspired by the Buy From The Bush initiative – a social media campaign launched late last year to support businesses facing drought.
Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities. This fundraiser was started to provide culturally sensitive, specific support to fire-affected First Nations communities and has already raised over $500,000.
Givit. As well as offering a service where exact items people need are listed and the public can give their own (or register items they wish to pass on), Givit is currently running campaigns specifically supporting NSW and Queensland bushfire victims.
Make It Rain: Find The Firies. Fancy a training session with Chris Hemsworth, or a personal styling session with Isabella Pennefather from Spell? How about a tennis lesson with Pat Rafter? Many celebs, artists and musos are offering their time in an auction to fund the NSW RFS Northern Rivers and Far North Coast Brigades.
Celeste Barber. As of Friday morning, this incredible fundraiser is almost at $50 million! Chip in your two cents (or more) to help support the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Australia Zoo. The Irwins – and their Wildlife Warriors animal hospital – have treated over 90,000 animals who have been hurt in the bushfires (like the ridiculously cute bats pictured above), and have been sending medical supplies to rescuers and carers on the frontlines.
Red Cross. One of the original support networks, who have been working tirelessly to provide much-needed emergency assistance, help at relief centres, food and water, grants and psychological first aid.
One Day Closer To Rain. A Facebook group (of 220,000 members) that was created to allow those in rural Australia to sell their homemade crafts, providing an opportunity to support those in drought-stricken communities.
WIRES Wildlife Rescue. WIRES have been rescuing and caring for wildlife for over 30 years and is the largest wildlife rescue organisation in Australia. They are currently experiencing an unprecendented demand and urgently need donations to help support their animal rescues.
Roadtrip For Good. A social initiative designed to help businesses affected by the bushfires get back on their feet. Businesses can register themselves on the interactive map to show that they are ‘open for business’ and ready for visitors. This will provide financial support in these communities that need it most. Plan your own #roadtripforgood to these beautiful towns.
Just remember that this crisis is far from over, and people, communities and organisations will be needing our help for many months to come. If you can’t provide any assistance right now, hold off for a few weeks, or even a few months. Every little bit counts!
Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.
Mother Teresa.
IMAGE ABOVE: AUSTRALIA ZOO
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Brighten up your inbox with our not-too-frequent emails featuring Peppermint-related news, events, competitions and more!
explore
More articles
Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
Hang out with us on Instagram
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
If your fingers are twitching for some crafting, take a peep at this massive list of marvellous makes that can be whipped up in a flash, put together by our Sewing Manager Laura. Ok yes, it was originally a roundup we created for easy Christmas gifts, but now it can be your blueprint for easy craft wins to go on your 2026 making must-do list!
If money and time are slim for you right now – as they are for many of us – these 22 projects will help you avoid the chaos and consumerism of the malls, scratch that creative itch and produce a fun me-made make that won’t break the bank.
Link in bio! 🪡🎨✂️
#PeppermintMagazine #MeMadeGifts #DIYs #EasyWins
