Crochet Pattern: Hanging Koala Planter for Charity

The fires in Australia are absolutely devastating, and I want to help! So I came up with this adorable hanging koala planter crochet pattern, and I’m donating all profits ($4.50 per pattern) to Australian charities! They’ll be split evenly between WIRES, to help animals, and the Australian Red Cross, to help people.

My original plan was to make the donations at the end of each month, but since I raised over $100 yesterday (!!!) I think I’ll do donations on the 16th as well. I’d rather send money ASAP! The fires have caused an immense amount of damage that will take a very long time to heal, if it ever does, so this pattern’s profits will be donated to Australian charities forever. [update july 2020: because of covid and all of the BLM and bail and police defunding donating i'm doing, I'm currently donating about 50% of the profits. However eventually I'll go back to 100%]

Supplies

• 2 balls of Worsted (weight yarn) held together, 50 yards each. OR 50 yards of super bulky (weight 6) yarn.

• A yard each of black and white worsted yarn

• 6.5mm hook & 4mm hook

• Tapestry needle

• Small amount of stuffing just for the head

• Some string/twine/rope for hanging

If you’ve made my sloth planter, you’ll have an easy time making this one. It’s a little different, but has a lot of similarities.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Donate directly to a charity in Australia! CBS wrote up an article with lots of links.

How to help evacuees

• Donate to the Australian Red Cross, which is supporting thousands of people in evacuation and recovery centers across the country. Local residents can volunteer their services.

• Donate to the Salvation Army Australia, which is providing meals and support to evacuees and first responders in multiple locations. 

• Extra room in your home? Offer to host people in need of emergency housing on AirBnB. 

• Donate to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which is helping evacuated families recover. The organization is providing food and clothing, helping cover bills, and donating household items to those whose homes have been destroyed.

• Donate food, funds or services to Foodbank, the largest hunger-relief charity in Australia. 

• Donate to a GoFundMe dedicated to displaced First Nations Communities that need to rebuild. 

• Donate food, toiletries and household items using Givit.

How to help firefighters

• Donate to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. The service has set up specific funds for the families of volunteer firefighters who have been killed while on duty this fire season. 

• Additionally, actor and comedian Celeste Barber is also hosting a fundraiser for the Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades donations fund. 

• Donate to Victoria's firefighting service, Country Fire Authority. The service is also managing locals who want to provide accommodation for people who have been displaced. 

• The Country Fire Service in South Australia is taking direct donations.

• Donate to the Rural Fire Brigades Association to support firefighters in Queensland.

How to help wildlife

• Donate to WIRES, a wildlife rescue nonprofit that is rescuing and caring for thousands of sick, injured and orphaned native animals.

• Donate to the World Wildlife Fund Australia, which is directing its efforts towards koala conservation.

• Donate to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital's GoFundMe, which has rescued and treated dozens of koalas suffering from severe burns. The hospital is using donations to install automatic drinking stations in burnt areas to help wildlife searching for water and to establish a wild koala breeding program to ensure the survival of the species.

• Donate to the RSPCA New South Wales, which is helping evacuate, rescue and treat pets and wildlife in threatened areas.

SHORT ON MONEY, BUT HEAVY ON YARN AND/OR FABRIC? MAKE ITEMS TO HELP ANIMALS!

Join the facebook group American Rescue Crafters Connect (even if you’re not in the US)! Here is a graphic showing what they need:

There are specific fiber requirements (most needs to be 100% cotton or wool, but the outsides of the joey pouches can be acrylic), and specific patterns for you to use. Once you’ve joined, you can access the files page and download the patterns and info. There are knitting, crochet, and sewing patterns!

Let’s each do what we can to help! Even if you can only donate $5, or make 1 bird nest, it’s all needed and it all matters!