Smoggys: Charitable Smoke Masks For Aussies
Donation protected
Australia is suffering from its most devastating bushfire season and the worst is yet to come.
At the time of writing this, there are 90 fires burning in NSW alone, half of which are uncontained, 2.9 million hectares burning through NSW and QLD, 680 homes, 6 lives and 2,000 koalas lost.
Thoughts and prayers are not enough.
The Rural Fire Service have been working around the clock to contain and downgrade bushfires across the country, to keep the rest of us safe. But the fires are out of control, the weather conditions aren’t easing up, the smoke is carrying across the nation and we’ve only just started summer.
The media claims that the smoke haze is the equivalent to smoking 34 cigarettes a day. In most cities, the air quality is worse than the likes of Beijing, Delhi, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
NSW Health is advising us to stay indoors “The best way to reduce exposure to smoke is to stay indoors with the doors and windows shut.” But we can’t stay in forever.
We know, wearing P2 masks isn’t something Aussies are used to. But then again, we aren’t used to having our air quality compared to the folks in countries who need to wear them, either.
Our business idea ‘is to help Aussies through the smoke haze and help the RFS fight against the smoke. A solution to protect both our lungs, and our land.’
We’re creating a bushfire air pollution mask that fights the smoke in the cities and the fires in the bush. A mask that acts as a symbol for Aussies to come together and unite in this time of crisis.
Introducing Smoggys, a P2 smoke mask with patterns that are distinctively Australian.
A P2 mask is considered one of the more effective ways out of regular masks, to limit exposure to toxic bushfire smoke. The iconic prints range from bin chickens, to koalas, lamingtons and pluggers – this is the accessory of the season, in health and in fashion. It’s a symbol that brings the Australian spirit out, with the larrikin that forms part of our identity.
All proceeds from Smoggys will be donated directly to the Rural Fire Service.
So, your Smoggys don’t just help protect you from the smoke, they are a statement that you have helped the RFS in their fight to protect us all.
To get Smoggys up and running, we need the support from our friends, families, colleagues and fellow Aussies. Any contribution you can make to our GoFundMe page will take us one step closer to being able to help Australians protect themselves from the smoke whilst donating to the Rural Fire Service. Our aim is to raise $10,000 by Wednesday 18th December which will allow us to actualise the business and start selling Smoggys across Australia. If we can’t get raise the necessary amount to get Smoggys off the ground, any money raised will be donated directly to the RFS.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and we are so very grateful for your donations and support.
Check out our website for a closer look at our mock ups!
https://smoggys.com.au/
- UPDATE -
We are so delighted by the response we have received so far. It's been a week since the inception of our idea and company, and now we are so close to ordering our first round of Smoggys! With the generous donations we have received from you all, it's important that we keep you updated and be transparent with what's going on. So without further ado, here are some FAQs to cover off and share with you all.
Who are we and where are we from?
The four of us are just a bunch of Aussies living through the smoke in Sydney. In the face of inaction, we got together on Tuesday the 10th of December, a day where the smoke in the city was particularly bad, to put our energies together to do something. There were two challenges we briefed ourselves to solve, the first being to get Aussies to take the first step to protecting their lungs from the smoke, and then getting them to donate to the RFS so that the firies can continue to fight the fires. Our idea helps us achieve both these challenges, whilst uniting us all in the face of adversity, through our unique Australian, larrikin spirit.
What is our relationship or contact to the party we're raising funds for?
This GoFundMe has been set up to raise money to help actualise our non-for-profit business, that we envisage to act as a long term, sustainable donation stream to the RFS. Yes, you can donate straight to the RFS (and we encourage all people to do so), however through our product, we can raise funds for the RFS and unite people through our uniquely designed masks.
The masks will help people get through the smoke and act as a public symbol that you have done your part in helping the firies. Our relationship with the RFS is not much different to everyone else's. They are the heroes and heroines on the front line fighting the fires day in and day out. While we are in the cities complaining about the smoke, there are people in the bush doing it far worse and we need to unite together to support the firies as much as we can, so that they can continue to protect us and our land.
How will the funds will be spent?
In the first instance, our withdrawal will be used to purchase the first order of Smoggy’s masks (approximately $8,500) through Inck Merchandise. The remaining $1,500 is to be used for final business set up costs (business set up costs with Australian Government, business insurance, supplier fees, website, domain name and email fees) to ensure we are setting up Smoggys Pty Ltd as a long term company, to drive its success.
What is the withdrawal plan to get the funds from this campaign to the ultimate beneficiary?
As our GoFundMe states, this fundraising is to actualise the business. Our GoFundMe money will ensure that from the first Smoggy sold, we can give profits (revenue minus cost of goods sold and operating expenses) to the RFS. This will be donated in the form of a lump sum at the first 500 Smoggy sales, then at 1000, 1500 and so on.
At the time of writing this, there are 90 fires burning in NSW alone, half of which are uncontained, 2.9 million hectares burning through NSW and QLD, 680 homes, 6 lives and 2,000 koalas lost.
Thoughts and prayers are not enough.
The Rural Fire Service have been working around the clock to contain and downgrade bushfires across the country, to keep the rest of us safe. But the fires are out of control, the weather conditions aren’t easing up, the smoke is carrying across the nation and we’ve only just started summer.
The media claims that the smoke haze is the equivalent to smoking 34 cigarettes a day. In most cities, the air quality is worse than the likes of Beijing, Delhi, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
NSW Health is advising us to stay indoors “The best way to reduce exposure to smoke is to stay indoors with the doors and windows shut.” But we can’t stay in forever.
We know, wearing P2 masks isn’t something Aussies are used to. But then again, we aren’t used to having our air quality compared to the folks in countries who need to wear them, either.
Our business idea ‘is to help Aussies through the smoke haze and help the RFS fight against the smoke. A solution to protect both our lungs, and our land.’
We’re creating a bushfire air pollution mask that fights the smoke in the cities and the fires in the bush. A mask that acts as a symbol for Aussies to come together and unite in this time of crisis.
Introducing Smoggys, a P2 smoke mask with patterns that are distinctively Australian.
A P2 mask is considered one of the more effective ways out of regular masks, to limit exposure to toxic bushfire smoke. The iconic prints range from bin chickens, to koalas, lamingtons and pluggers – this is the accessory of the season, in health and in fashion. It’s a symbol that brings the Australian spirit out, with the larrikin that forms part of our identity.
All proceeds from Smoggys will be donated directly to the Rural Fire Service.
So, your Smoggys don’t just help protect you from the smoke, they are a statement that you have helped the RFS in their fight to protect us all.
To get Smoggys up and running, we need the support from our friends, families, colleagues and fellow Aussies. Any contribution you can make to our GoFundMe page will take us one step closer to being able to help Australians protect themselves from the smoke whilst donating to the Rural Fire Service. Our aim is to raise $10,000 by Wednesday 18th December which will allow us to actualise the business and start selling Smoggys across Australia. If we can’t get raise the necessary amount to get Smoggys off the ground, any money raised will be donated directly to the RFS.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and we are so very grateful for your donations and support.
Check out our website for a closer look at our mock ups!
https://smoggys.com.au/
- UPDATE -
We are so delighted by the response we have received so far. It's been a week since the inception of our idea and company, and now we are so close to ordering our first round of Smoggys! With the generous donations we have received from you all, it's important that we keep you updated and be transparent with what's going on. So without further ado, here are some FAQs to cover off and share with you all.
Who are we and where are we from?
The four of us are just a bunch of Aussies living through the smoke in Sydney. In the face of inaction, we got together on Tuesday the 10th of December, a day where the smoke in the city was particularly bad, to put our energies together to do something. There were two challenges we briefed ourselves to solve, the first being to get Aussies to take the first step to protecting their lungs from the smoke, and then getting them to donate to the RFS so that the firies can continue to fight the fires. Our idea helps us achieve both these challenges, whilst uniting us all in the face of adversity, through our unique Australian, larrikin spirit.
What is our relationship or contact to the party we're raising funds for?
This GoFundMe has been set up to raise money to help actualise our non-for-profit business, that we envisage to act as a long term, sustainable donation stream to the RFS. Yes, you can donate straight to the RFS (and we encourage all people to do so), however through our product, we can raise funds for the RFS and unite people through our uniquely designed masks.
The masks will help people get through the smoke and act as a public symbol that you have done your part in helping the firies. Our relationship with the RFS is not much different to everyone else's. They are the heroes and heroines on the front line fighting the fires day in and day out. While we are in the cities complaining about the smoke, there are people in the bush doing it far worse and we need to unite together to support the firies as much as we can, so that they can continue to protect us and our land.
How will the funds will be spent?
In the first instance, our withdrawal will be used to purchase the first order of Smoggy’s masks (approximately $8,500) through Inck Merchandise. The remaining $1,500 is to be used for final business set up costs (business set up costs with Australian Government, business insurance, supplier fees, website, domain name and email fees) to ensure we are setting up Smoggys Pty Ltd as a long term company, to drive its success.
What is the withdrawal plan to get the funds from this campaign to the ultimate beneficiary?
As our GoFundMe states, this fundraising is to actualise the business. Our GoFundMe money will ensure that from the first Smoggy sold, we can give profits (revenue minus cost of goods sold and operating expenses) to the RFS. This will be donated in the form of a lump sum at the first 500 Smoggy sales, then at 1000, 1500 and so on.
Fundraising team (4)
Smoggys Smog
Organizer
Waverton, NSW
Bec Drummond
Team member
Jack Burton
Team member
Lucas Fowler
Team member