Knitters unite to sew pouches for injured wildlife
<p>Knitters around the world are lending their hand to support native wildlife caught up in the Australian bushfires.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50951043">More than 6.3 million hectares</a> of bush, forest and parks have been burned in this bushfire season, killing an estimated billion of animals.</p>
<p>The Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild said the organisation’s call for volunteers had been met with an outpouring of offers to make pouches, wraps, blankets and beddings for injured and orphaned animals.</p>
<p>Since its establishment in April, the guild’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/arfsncrafts/">Facebook group</a> has accumulated more than 160,000 members.</p>
<p>“It’s been going crazy,” Belinda Orellana, a founding member of the Queensland-based guild, told <a rel="noopener" href="https://10daily.com.au/news/a200107szpkb/the-world-is-knitting-clothes-for-australias-injured-wildlife-and-darn-the-pics-are-cute-20200107" target="_blank">Reuters</a>.</p>
<p>“Our group creates and supplies items to rescue groups and carers around the country who take in and care for the wildlife.”</p>
<p>Donations have come in from the United States, Britain, Hong Kong, France and Germany.</p>
<p>Volunteer Rachel Sharples told <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/07/australia-wildfires-animals-shelters-knitting">The Guardian</a></em> young marsupials such as kangaroos, koalas, possums and sugar gliders require a pouch to grow up.</p>
<p>“Australia has a lot of iconic and lovable animals,” Sharples said.</p>
<p>“I think that for people to physically be able to create something, to physically create an item they know an animal will use, resonates with people more so than a cash donation and that is why we have set that up as an option or a way to help.”</p>
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<p>Anyone looking to donate their knitting to the guild can find the patterns, instructions and drop-off information <a href="https://www.facebook.com/arfsncrafts/posts/116145636510628?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAK8StJnGcSazCJHhffZ64pp0w915vHMnZNfLY1zUZeyuDMMFm3veo1lGGYsm13oM8TNfcmpk1v-q5taDXBDN5IDO12wMjA0ml4PSu8z0KLannvlBiibLGzwhOyq96hHVVjEM9oXW89YbtSGbhT-lbpN4HlxoGO1CANlkeX0glfJ1tszhxxjoOW2DTlk4D2vDlK1M0Fi0lE9gZQX190HSpHwdpdSR471Zms6ibhh6hQAjjqClRcREJJ7lh9pdpo9kk134Srm1Y6JASzMP_qaFUAEC6G8EP713RsGF8xLgvTIpP-KLWNY218bABMj1IzAwQNph9x0Wjy8mluypU8Qpo&__tn__=-R">here</a>.</p>
<p><em>Photo credit: Avalon Llewellyn / Animal Rescue Craft Guild</em></p>
<p><em><span>OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw">Vinnie's website</a> to donate.</span></em></p>
