Aid for bushfire victims
WHEN fire ravaged the Western Australian town of Yarloop last week, two Jewish residents of Perth collected supplies and drove more than 700km to help people in need.
WHEN fire ravaged the Western Australian town of Yarloop last week, two Jewish residents of Perth collected supplies and drove more than 700km to help people in need.
Shmoo Burnie and Daniel Gerson, both in their early 30s, put a call out on social media for non-perishable food, bottled water, clothes, blankets, toys, pet supplies and toiletries.
Once they had collected the donations, they filled a ute and trailer and drove the supplies to an evacuation centre.
“Daniel Gerson and I have been amazed at the generosity and wonderful spirit over the last 24 hours,” Burnie said after they dropped off the items. “From goods donated and purchased to vehicles and trailers being provided.”
Stressing that he and Gerson shouldn’t be the focus of the story, Burnie added, “People think we’re doing something amazing. We’re just the schleppers, it’s everyone else who had made this happen.”
“It’s about the wonderful response we got from the Facebook post and from our friends and those they shared the call for help with.”
According to Burnie, they delivered over a tonne of goods from more than 50 people, including children that donated their own toys and books for the less fortunate.
Yarloop residents were only given 25 minutes notice before a bushfire tore through the town. At least 128 homes were destroyed by the blaze and two people were killed.
JOSHUA LEVI
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