Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]
Wildfires have torn across Australia over the past few months, destroying bushland, wooded areas and national parks.
Communities have been evacuated, more than 3,000 homes have burned down and more than 28 people have been killed.
Australia is nearly 15,000 kilometres away but the effects are being felt here, too.
And Jasperites have banded together to help raise relief money.
Tim Horrocks, the Australian owner of Sunhouse Cafe, is donating $1 for every coffee sold and $2 per plate - with the option for customers to match the donations for WIRES Animal Rescue.
He said: 鈥淭he scale of it is so much, sometimes we get these catastrophes that capture people鈥檚 imaginations and they are more than willing to help.
鈥淧eople have responded really well already and we are pretty stoked with the way it鈥檚 going.
鈥淭he response has been great.鈥�
Horrocks, from Melbourne, said most of his family is safe but his aunt was evacuated from her home on the south coast.
And after visiting the east coast in October, where he spent most of his adult life, that area went up in flames.
鈥淭hat was the first indication,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty crazy, the whole east coast is a bit of a tinderbox.鈥�
Horrocks launched the Sunhouse fundraiser earlier this month as 鈥渁 really easy way to fundraise鈥�.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really straightforward, clean way to raise money by people just doing what they would usually be doing anyway, and they can match that donation,鈥� he said.
And every customer who matches or exceeds the cafes donation is entered into a draw to win a prize donated by a Jasper business.
Prizes include a day skiing at Marmot Basin, a package at Trademark Hair Company, ice climbing trips with Rockaboo, gear from Ransom and Gravity Gear, a hanging desk pot by Celina Frisson, and gift vouchers for Earls, Fleur and Jasper Wellness.
Trademark Hair Company is also fundraising by donating $1 per service and $5 per spa service this week.
Kristin Robinson, co-owner of Trademark said: 鈥淲e all have some connection with Australia and it鈥檚 an important cause for sure.
鈥淧eople have been really supportive and I feel like it has affected everybody. It hits close to home with fires here and it is so devastating.鈥�
Syrahs of Jasper is holding an Australia Day dinner with a kangaroo dinner and Australian wines on January 26 as a benefit for wildfire relief, too.
The restaurant will donate 25 per cent of the proceeds and servers will donate 25 per cent of their tips from the night to the Australian Red Cross.
Owner Jason Munn said he was inspired to help because of Jasper鈥檚 connection to Australia.
鈥淛asper is such an international town and I have a lot of Australian friends,鈥� he said.
鈥淔or 2020 Syrah鈥檚 mandate will be 鈥楲ive local, think global,鈥� so I wanted to do as much and share some resources and it鈥檚 good to be able to give back - especially now we are a bit established.鈥�
Munn said the restaurant has already booked 鈥渜uite a few鈥� reservations for the night and 鈥渆veryone has been super onboard.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to be there in their time of need,鈥� said Munn.
Also this week, proceeds from Jasper Volleyball League鈥檚 tournament were donated to the cause and Fleur Cannabis Boutique is donating $1 from every purchase from Wednesday to Friday.
