As with similar tragedies in the past, I’m using the blog to promote an appeal for donations to help those affected by the terrible bushfires. I’m kicking it off with a donation of $500. Anyone who’d like to take part can record the amount donated in the comments thread below. I’ll report the total from time to time. Past appeals have raised as much as $5000, and it would be great to match that.
You can donate to the Red Cross Appeal here or make a direct deposit to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund –
BSB 082-001, Account number 860-046-797. Once you’ve done that post your comment, and encourage the rest of us.
If anyone has any new ideas for fundraising, or would like a repeat of some of the old ones please feel free suggest them.
I’d like to confine comments on this post strictly to fundraising and other expressions of support. There’s already a discussion of the fires, and metacommentary on fundraising can go in the Monday Message Board (running late, but up soon).
Update 12:50pm We’re already over $1000, from donations big and small. Small donations from those who are short of cash themselves are more significant in a lot of ways, than bigger amounts from those who have plenty to spare.
Update 8:20pm Single Black Female rip The total by my estimate is $3650, which is exceptionally generous. If only we could maintain this level of solidarity all the time, and in response to the everyday tragedies of poverty and hunger, as well as in times of disaster, is there anything we couldn’t accomplish?
Update 1:50pm Wednesday
We’re now at $4530 by count, so I’ll offer an incentive. A free post, written by me, on any topic within reason for whoever pushes us over $5000. To avoid some game-theoretic complications I’ve just thought about, I’ll be offering a special award for anyone who contributes between now and the $5000 target, however large or small their donation.
Update 8:50am Thursday The total has now reached $5750, which is a huge success and a tribute to the generosity of readers of this blog.
The donation that tipped the total over $5000 was from commenter “Mike” who gets to propose a topic for a post by me. Honorable mentions to James Farrell and GDavies whose generous donations pushed us very close to that total and thanks again to everyone who has contributed.
I’ll probably wrap this up tomorrow evening, so get in now with your contribution.
Update 9:50am Friday The Midnight Meat Train divx The total is over $7300 which I think is our best ever. Get in quick with your contributions, as I plan to finish the appeal here this evening. (Of course, you can still make contributions to the Red Cross or Bushfire Relief Funds if you’re running late).
Further update To co-ordinate a joint appeal with Larvatus Prodeo, I’m keeping the appeal open for the weekend. With LP readers joining those here, I’m confident that we can raise at least $10 000.
Update Saturday AM Total is now $8185, enough that I’ve stopped trying to do it in my head, and put all the info into a spreadsheet. I know most people have already donated by now, but if you haven’t, or haven’t got around to recording the fact, here’s your chance.
John Quiggin 
Have just contributed my “widow’s mite” donation to the Red Cross. Nothing like as big a donation as Professor Quiggin’s, I’m afraid.
$10 from me.
My missus is taking this a bit hard as it’s brought back the Canberra fires for her, the feeling of helplessness and possibly survivors guilt – we were so less prepared than our neighbours and friends but it often came down to dumb luck where the fires struck.
She’s got the card today – I said go for $200, but I’m sure she’ll do that plus a little more.
I rang the red cross blood bank yesterday apologising for not having shown up again in the last decade but could they use my O-pos – yes please was the quick reply and have an appointment this afternoon to give a bit
Jack M. Strocchi, Thank you for your donation to Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009.Receipt Number : 574954 Donation Amount $ 50.00 AUD
That makes $100.00 from our household. Thereby fulfilling my rash promise to “double up”.
Come on people. If a black-hearted reactionary like me can stump up a C-note then bleeding heart liberals need to go one-up man!
I contributed $100 to the red cross appeal through my workplace.
PS there you go jack one bleeding heart liberal response.
$100 from me and my family.
Our Community has a number of appeals listed regards the bushfire disaster. They are listed here:
http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/bushfiredisaster
Donating to these appeals via Our Commmunity’s online giving centre costs nothing, and the only fees are the ones the credit card companies have in place.
For more information on other ways to donate, visit – http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/giving/giving_article.jsp?articleId=4026.
$100 to the Red Cross from me.
My family’s in for $200.
100 marginal notes from me.
$100 from my family.
My wife has a well paying gig this week (she’s a puppeteer and performer) and we’ve donated her $400 fee to the red cross appeal.
$150 from me.
$200 to the Red Cross.
Im in the process $100 for me. Im just waiting for my silly mobile to recharge so I can get the sms I now need to TFR (why did I sign up for that sms….the more I listen to banks the worse the knots I tie myself up in!!).
Id like to add…cough up Tony G!
$200 from our family.
$200 from me.
Receipt Number : 595493
Donation Amount $ 100.00 AUD
Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009
Mine is done now – note on stment “Alanna in JQs”. Vic B’Fire Appeal.
Receipt no. 598170, for $110.
($100 from me plus $5 from each cat; animals will benefit from this appeal too, if only indirectly.)
Plus 470 mil of finest O+ as soon as the queue gets a bit shorter.
Receipt Number : 599628
Donation Amount $ 500.00 AUD
Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009
I hope this means they’re getting donations at the rate implied by PC’s & my receipt numbers.
$50 from me matched by my employer for a total of $100. Well done JQ and props to Jack S for the suggestion.
$100 to the Red Cross from me.
[…] basics for people who have nothing left, but their lives. John Quiggan has details about how to make donations to the Red Cross and the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund. He’s asking bloggers to donate, and acknowledge their […]
[…] John Quiggin has done his usual wonderful job in coordinating blogosphere donations – he’s well over $1,000 now. […]
I’ve just donated $500, and now trying to get my kids to donate their weeks’ pocket money (much harder).
From our family:
Red Cross
Receipt Number : 625486
Donation Amount $ 250 AUD
Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009
Just donated $50 – would be easier if I was employed.. Never the less it is done!
$300 from me and my partner.
JQ,
Is there any way you can keep this section up the top of the list for a while?
Done!
$200 to the Red Cross.
$250 from myself and partner
$200 to the relief fund through my workplace.
$100 to Wildlife Victoria Bushfire Appeal.
http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/cms/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=43
$100 from my partner and I through Anglicare Victoria site. They stepped up as an alternative way to the Red Cross online donations system when it started buckling under the load.
My wife, Claire Rodda, just put $100.00 into the Wildlife Victoria Bushfire Appeal. She’s a nurse and no doubt feels that humans are getting enough attention.
I was advised in no uncertain terms that I had stump up half the amount. I did so on condition that I could claim brownie points on this blog. CWB Rec No: 021195697498 Amount: $50.00.
All this charity is taking its toll on my good nature. I look forward to taking a pound of flesh to take out of a certain liberal academic, on a subject dear to my heart.
$60 rcpt 687369 AUD Victorian Bushfire Appeal
$40 rcpt 31372338 kmart bushfire wishing donation
Here you go.
Receipt Number : 694450
Donation Amount $ 200.00 AUD
Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009
Thank you for your donation to Australian Red Cross.
Another $50 here.
Are U there yet JQ?
$200 to the Red Cross.
Tony G.
$ 200. St Vinnes Victorian Disaster Appeal NA 0902113
$250 to Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
In addition to the amount at post 3, we also did $200 to the wildlifevictoria.org.au
Another $50 here plus I am giving separately through a work appeal tomorrow. Nice idea JQ.
Sorry for waiting so long, had to wait for payday – curse this start of school period
Oh and another thing – Do your weekly supermarket grocery shop at a Coles supermarket on Friday night (13th) if you can. Coles has said they’ll donate profits from their sales for that night.