Bunnings raises more than half a million dollars for bushfire victims

Bunnings raised more than half a million dollars for bushfire victims with a national sausage sizzle, despite a flock of irate herbivores campaigning for the fundraiser to be cancelled.

The hardware giant hosted the fundraising event last Friday with all stores across Australia raising money for those affected by bushfires that ravaged the eastern states.

The sausage sizzle raised more than $580,000 and Bunnings contributed an extra $20,000.

But the event drew criticism from the vegan community.

‘Why oh why are people selling sausages to raise money when it’s known that meat is a contributing factor to climate change? Which is a contributing factor to these fires!’, one woman wrote on a vegan Facebook page.

‘It honestly baffles my mind and makes me so sad. It’s a heartbreaking cycle.’ 

The post went viral and has since been deleted, but dozens agreed with the woman’s notion. 

‘They can shove their sausage where the sun don’t shine,’ one said.

One vegan on social media criticised the event

But others believed they were looking at the fundraiser in the wrong light.

‘Right now, helping those fighting the fires is more dire than fighting the meat industry for climate change,’ one user posted.

‘Sorry what? There is nothing they can do about the sausages already produced but they can sell them to raise funds for fire fighters who are actually facing the real fires happening right now,’ another comment reads.

The woman who shared the post later said she deleted it ‘because too many people were being rude’. 

Bunnings employees during hte sausage sizzle last Friday

Despite the uproar, Bunnings Chief Operating Officer Debbie Poole thanked the thousands of people who supported the cause.

‘We are so grateful that people from across Australia dropped by their local Bunnings’ on Friday to buy a snag and donate to help those in need. The result would not have been possible without their generosity,’ she said. 

Hardware store employees in fire-affected communities helped support evacuation centres. 

The funds will be donated to GIVIT – a charity that assists communities during disaster.

Bunnings employees pose with firefighters on the day of the fundraiser

GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant said the money will be used to to buy items for farmers and communities in drought-affected regions, and supporting households and communities affected by bushfires.

‘We will be working closely with our charity and community service partners on the ground to ensure people are getting what they require, whether that be a fridge, a table, school uniforms, or fuel and grocery vouchers.’

Four people died in unprecedented fire conditions across the eastern seaboard.  

More than 600 homes were destroyed in New South Wales since bushfire season began on October 1.

Two hardware store workers happily cook sausages to help with the nation-wide event