16 Feb 2021

Where Can I Donate My…….

by | posted in: Community ?, Life | 0

RDMs are a generous bunch and as such, the question “Where can I donate XYZ?” often comes up in the RDM Facebook Group.

Below, we’ve pulled together a list of ways you can donate any quality items you no longer need. Of course, if you are aware of a great collection point that isn’t listed, please let us know via email.

Important note: When donating items, please be sure they are in full working order, clean and in good condition. Most charities are run by volunteers and many do not have the time or means to fix and clean donations. Also, people in need can feel empowered by good quality donations so let’s move away from the “well it’s better than nothing” mindset.

General

Charity bins are a great way to donate pre-loved quality clothing. Make sure to check on the side of each bin for what they will take. And remember: dumping is ILLEGAL.

To find the nearest locations, click on the links below:

Local Freecycle and Recycling Facebook Groups

Clothes

  • Zara – will take clothing you no longer use. Leave them in a container you’ll find in their stores. They will deliver it to organisations that process the garments to give them a new life.
  • Fitted for Work – donate high-quality corporate womenswear and accessories. The aim of this organisation is to empower disadvantaged women and find economic independence through direct donations, employment services, and advocacy. Ensure that all items donated are freshly dry-cleaned/laundered and ironed, not more than 5 years old, and suitable for wearing to job interviews. Currently only their Melbourne location is open so head to their Facebook page for more info on the reopening of the Parramatta drop point.
  • Dress for Success is a charity that helps improve the employability of women in need. Help to empower women and find employment by donating good quality business and interview quality attire, shoes, jewellery, scarves, handbags (briefcases, portfolios, etc) unopened toiletries, and unopened makeup. Donation drop point: 132 Marrickville Road, Marrickville

Bras

Shoes

  • Shoes For Planet Earth – collects new and pre-loved running shoes for people in need around the world. NSW drop-off locations closest are Beecroft (Cutting edge Podiatry) and Rozelle (Running science and Pace athletic).

Towels

  • Call your local vet, animal shelter or the RSPCA. Often they take them to use for pet bedding and/or for clean-up rags.
  • Animal Welfare League NSW – a non-profit working to provide all animals a home through rehoming, education and discount desexing programs. You can help by donating old towels, blankets, dog mats, wading pools, baby monitors, cameras (Gopro for monitoring behaviours), food, toys, cardboard boxes, and more. Please do not donate any quilts. Drop off location: Kemps Creek Shelter or call 8899 3333 to discuss possible drop-offs at local branches.

Books

  • Street libraries – click though for our full list of locations for these street-accessible libraries.
  • Local libraries– also love getting donations of book. If they’re not suitable for loaning, they will sell them and put the funds back into purchasing other books for the library.
  • Footpath Library – gives away free books to homeless people living on the street in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.
  • Lifeline – Gladesville is our nearest Lifeline store. Make sure to give them a call ahead of your drop off so you can run through what you have and clear it with them as sometimes they’re at capacity and don’t want things to go to waste – 9879 3009

Homewares and Electronics

  • Generous and Grateful – a non-profit aiming to help uplift the lives of those most disadvantaged. Working with frontline agencies such as The Australian Red Cross and Mission Australia, The Generous and The Grateful provides BIG essential household items to those in need. There is a list on the GG website of items they are in need of – working whitegoods are the hardest to find (fridges, freezers, washers, dryers). Sets of drawers, TV’s, Microwaves and small dining tables are also on the Yes Please list right now. 
  • The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre – offer a free collection service for household furniture and items that are in good usable condition. They also accept bikes, some electronic appliances, small quantities of building materials, bric-a-brac, kitchenware and books.
  • Fair Game Sports Equipment – give your pre-loved sports equipment a new life in the hands of those less fortunate. Fair game are currently in need of footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, footy boots, kids running shoes, sets of team bibs, cones, boxing gloves/focus pads, skipping ropes, dodge balls and hula hoops
  • Furniture: Vinnies North Ryde, Vinnies West Ryde, Vinnies Epping – welcomes the donation of quality furniture pieces and will organise the collection of furniture in good condition. Salvos – call or fill out the online form to arrange a collection of large items you can’t deliver yourself.
  • Women and Girls’ Emergency Centre – accept laptops, tablets and iPhones. All technology must be able to turn on, have no cracked screens and include a charger.

Mattresses

Toiletries

  • Every Little Bit Helps – their belief is that every Australian should have access to a toothbrush and a bar of soap and that by providing basic toiletries to people in need they are providing them with not only the essentials but also a little bit of dignity.
  • Support The Girls – happy to receive both sample size items and full-size items. All toiletries have to be brand new.

Stationary

  • Got a Pen? – collects and distributes NEW stationery to students who don’t have what they need to actively participate in their learning at school on a daily basis. They are currently accepting donations of Pens (black/blue/red), pencils, pencil cases, rulers, scissors, pencil sharpers, erasers, highlighters, glue sticks, clue sticks, colour pencils.

Nursery Items and Toys

  • The Nappy Collective – twice a year (October and May) unused nappies are collected and distributed to women’s shelters, refugees and families in crisis. Westmead is the closest drop-off point.
  • Dandelion Support Network: supports vulnerable families by providing much-needed goods such as all baby goods (baths, bottles, bassinets/cribs/beds, breast pumps, breast pads, car capsules, etc), toys, CDs & DVDs for children, decor and more. Click here to book in a time to drop your donations off in Caringbah.
  • Mummies Paying it Forward – baby and children’s clothing and essentials, nursery items, and toys. For a detailed list of what they’re accepting visit their website and click here for drop-off points.
  • Local playgroups: contact your local playgroup to see if they need some toys to add to their collection.
  • Anglicare Charity Bins
    • St Dunstan’s Anglican Church, 112 Lovell St, Denistone East
    • St Chad’s Anglican Church, Cnr Morrison Rd & Delange Rd, Putney
    • St Anne’s Anglican Church, 42-50 Church St, Ryde
    • St John’s Anglican Church, 152 Coxs Rd, North Ryde
    • St Mark’s Anglican Church, Figtree Rd, Hunters Hill
    • All Saint’s Anglican Church, Cnr Ambrose St & Ferry St, Hunters Hill
  • Peninsula Seniors Toy Recyclers – donate board games, puzzles, ride-ons, lego, dolls, instruments, soft toys etc. This amazing group of Senior Citizens repair damaged toys and donate them to needy families and children’s organisations. Located Mona Vale Rd, Ingleside + drop off points throughout Northern Beaches.

Food

  • North Ryde Community Aid – an emergency food program sustained through donations of non-perishable food items from caring local residents, church, and community groups.
  • Food Drive NSW (Vinnies) – looks after those affected by the many crisis’s 2020 brought (bushfires, COVID-19 health risks and also the unemployment effects that came with that, to name but a few. They welcome all non-perishable pantry items that are in-date and personal hygiene and household items. Address: 683 Darling St, Rozelle NSW 2039 (Please note all drop-off locations are open 9am – 4pm, Monday – Friday).
  • NICU Food From the Heart – supports parents who have babies staying in the Neonatal intensive care unit in North Sydney by providing healthy and fresh fruit and packaged snacks. Donations or contributions include but are not limited to, whole fresh fruit, muesli bars, cereals, yogurt pods, fruit and nuts, healthy juices, Up and go’s and snack packs

Glasses

Lions Eye Health and Recycle For Sight Programs – distributes regraded spectacles to many parts of the world to Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs and other humanitarian organisations for distribution to poor people in need at no expense or obligation on the recipient.

Helping People and Families in Need

  • North Shore Mums Smiles 2U – provides care packages to mums and children during a hospital stay. Donate new craft items, pencils/crayons, stickers, colouring-in books, activity books (such as Sudoko) iTunes vouchers etc (for the kids) and creams, lip gloss, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant (non-spray) pens, mini shampoo/conditioner and body wash (for the mums)
  • Mums4Refugees – supports asylum seekers and refugees by donating good quality fridges, washing machines, beds, lounges, computers, pots & pans, rice cooker, cots, prams, mobile phones. Provide practical assistance to asylum seekers through detention centre visits, conducting donation drives to collect and distribute material aid and by engaging in community-building activities. Join the Facebook group to find out how you can help
  • Share the Dignity – donate sanitary items to ensure every woman has dignity when dealing with her monthly period. (Twice a year in March and August, they welcome donate pads, tampons, period underwear, incontinence pads, menstrual cups etc. to their Dignity Drives across the country, and they have collection points in Woolworths across the country). They also accept handbags – donate a handbag you no longer use and fill it with items that would make a woman feel special

Physical Donations

Breast Milk

  • Eats On Feets – a world-wide network for those who have made the informed choice to share breast milk
  • MilkBank – Part of the Australian Red Cross. Donate breast milk and help premature babies.
  • Mothers Milk Bank – provides screened and pasteurised donor mothers’ milk, to families where the mother’s own milk is not available for their baby.

Blood

Hair

Everything else!

If you would like to recycle materials you know can’t be used for anything, check out www.recyclingnearyou.com.au and simply enter in what you’d like to recycle. (A free online search provided by Planet Ark).