Shandhar Hut is taking donations for Australian wildfire relief the whole month of January and matching them.
“Our Friends down under are suffering and we can no longer sit idle,” Shandhar spokesman Gord Atti posted to Facebook on Tuesday.
“My parents are taking initiative by accepting donations in-store until January 31, which will be matched dollar for dollar.”
A special donation box is available at the restaurant with a log book for anyone wishing to sign it, but donors can also offer something at the till.
READ MORE: Australia leaders vow to pay whatever it costs to fight fires and rebuild
“Our thoughts are with the first responders and all of the families and wildlife that have been displaced and are suffering,” Atti wrote.
Their customers and fans have started to enthusiastically share the post, and leave encouraging messages.
Alana Morley posted a comment on Facebook from Australia praising the fundraising idea:
“As an Aussie, who used to live in Chilliwack, went to school there and spent a wonderful part of my childhood there, I just wanted to say thank you,” Morley wrote.
“It has been terrifying for months now, with my family and friends evacuating, defending, and unfortunately losing their homes.
“I am in Canberra, where the smoke has been so terrible, my work closed down. It is wonderful to receive support from all over the world… especially Chilliwack!”
By the end of the first day of the local fundraiser there was more than $300 collected, and more than 160 shares of the Shandhar FB post.
Donations from Chilliwack will go toward the provision of humanitarian aid by the Australian Red Cross, and to WWF Australia to help the animals, Atti said.
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