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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Claire Galloway

Leith Toy Hospital in Edinburgh need donations to sew pouches for orphaned joeys in Australia

A much-loved Leith business needs your donations to help orphaned animals affected by the bushfires that have devastated Australia.

It is thought that over a billion animals have died since the fires first began in September - which have now swept across millions of hectares.

Harrowing photos of suffering animals have emerged in the wake of the crisis prompting a worldwide response and now people in Edinburgh can get involved, too.

The Leith Toy Hospital are appealing for donations to sew pouches for orphaned kangaroos, koalas and bats who have been rescued over nine thousand miles away, in Australia.

The talented seamstresses typically patch up toys that have seen better days and will adapt these skills to join volunteers around the globe who are making items for rescue centres.

Describing the situation as "very tragic", the toy hospital's manager, Mari Jones, told Edinburgh Live that a colleague had spotted the appeal for the pouches on social media and thought: "Well, we can sew." 

What can I donate?

The team are appealing for textile donations, which includes anything from old clothes, to pajamas and bedsheets - whatever you can spare.

Mari explains that natural fabrics, such as cotton and linen, are best suited for the lining of the pouches but all donated textiles will be upcycled and put to use.

Local sewers who like to join them are also welcome to help out, Mari said.

The donations will be sent to Animal Rescue Collective, the group behind Animal Rescue Craft Guild, which encourages people to craft products to assist animal rescues.

You can drop off your donations at Leith Toy Hospital on 64 Constitution Street between 10-6pm today and tomorrow, or 12-6pm on Sunday (12 January).

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