Each year before Christmas comes, I like to go through the house with the kids and sort out what we no longer need, but still works and would be useful to others. Today I wanted to share with you a couple local places in Melbourne that could use your help, if like me you have household/baby items that are in good condition that you no longer need.
St Kilda Mums
I wish I knew about St Kilda Mums about six months ago. We had a garage sale last year and couldn’t even give away a few items, things like our pram and high chair (good condition). Places like Vinnies and the Salvation Army will no longer take these items, so they ended up going into the hard rubbish collection at the start of this year.
This seemed like such a waste to me on a couple of levels. These were items that although a few years old, were in perfect working order, clean and tidy. The fact they were going to land fill seemed so wasteful. I knew there would be families out there that needed this type of stuff, but didn’t know how to find them.
St Kilda Mums was started in February 2009 by a group of mums who were frustrated by this same problem. It has now grown to become a network of nearly 450 families that responds to requests from nearly 200 local social workers and maternal child health nurses on behalf of families in need. St Kilda Mums is run and staffed solely by volunteers who help match needs of families suffering hardship with families who had something to give.
Items you can donate:
You can make a donation of clothing, toys or nursery gear your children have outgrown. Here is a list of the most commonly requested items:
- clothing 0000 to 5 years: freshly laundered please
- toys: plastic, wooden and small soft toys
- shoes: if not too worn and scuffed
- nappies and other baby change items
- bunny rugs, blankets, baby linen and towels
- breast pumps, (bottles & teats if as new)
- highchairs, prams and strollers, bouncers
- cots, security gates, car seats, baby bjorns
They cannot accept electrical items though as they are not covered by their insurance.
You can find out more information on the St Kilda Mums website and you can also join St Kilda Mums on facebook where they update the most urgent requests from families in need.
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
I am a little bit behind with my donations to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), but I shall be remedying that next week. You can see in detail exactly what the ASRC does here, but some of their key activities are provision of essential items, counselling and provision of services for employment and training for asylum seekers.
The treatment of refugees in Australia is one of the most shameful things the last few federal government have on their records. The asylum seeker issue in Australia has transcended sensible debate and is now a political farce, with innocent men, women and children suffering in the process.
If you want to read some fact based information on the asylum seeker issue in Australia, I can highly recommend reading the ASRC’s free downloadable PDF Asylum seekers and refugees – myths, FACTS+ solutions. And if you want to get involved they have a list of 10 things you can do.
One of the things on the list is to donate items of need like:
Great foods to donate
- breakfast cereal
- dried fruit, nuts
- eggs, bread
- fresh fruit or veg
- long life (UHT) milk
- biscuits/chocolate
- tomato paste
- tinned fish
- tinned fruit or veg
- tea/coffee
- spices
- dishwashing detergent
- shaving stuff
- pads and tampons
- shampoo
- soap
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- washing powder
- toilet paper
- Use your imagination (but don’t bother with baked beans, tinned spaghetti or tinned soups)
Aid and Advocacy donations
- Phonecards (local or international)
- Mobile phones (in working order, with charger)
- Nappies
- Bedding
- Kitchenware (specifically saucepans, frypans, cooking pots)
Drop of points are in West Melbourne and Fairfield. Full details on times and addresses can be found here. Th ASRC can also be found on facebook and twitter.
In the lead up to Christmas, I find it the perfect opportunity to teach my kids the value of giving and to discuss how lucky we are to have not only everything we need, but much more on top of that.
Do you have local charities that you support and do you involve the kids with giving?Tweet
23 comments...read them below or add one
We do Operation Christmas Child. This year we are also focusing on sending money to the famine relief in East Africa. We also support our local family support service. I think it is so important to develop a giving spirit in our children.
I love the idea of the St Kilda Mums – I wish there was something similar in Sydney. I am about to do a cull of baby equipment and it breaks my heart to think the only place to get rid of it could be the tip. Does anyone know of a place in Sydney that takes quality baby stuff?
I will ask the St Kilda Mums crew and get back to you Jo.
Thank you so much for the info about St Kilda Mums – I am currently ihn the process of going through all of Meerkat’s old stuff (including cot and lots of clothes) and would really love them to go directly to families in need! This sounds so perfect!!
xxxCate
Was disappointed I found out about it too late for lots of my stuff.
As your aware I am an employee at a kinder. If my management agree is it ok if I circulate this to our families? I get asked alot by our parents if we have any donation ideas.
Bree
Would love it if you share it Bree. Feel free to use this post in a newsletter if you like. Thanks Nic xx
Freecycle is a good way of giving stuff away (and maybe picking something up). http://www.freecycle.org/group/AU/
Of course, great idea Deb, thanks for listing it.
Like you, we also do a big clean-up before Christmas to donate toys, books and clothing in good condition to the local Vinnies store. At school, each class is given a family from a charity to buy presents for, which is a wonderful thing to teach the children.
Agreed. It is really important for us that we teach our kids how lucky they are and how this is also has a responsibility, to help others.
I LOVE this, Nicole! Have never done anything like this at Christmas time, what an utterly fab idea. I’m doing it.
Great post Nicole and lovely to read the comments from people thinking of those less fortunate. Other ideas for the upcoming festive season your readers might like include:
If you belong to a play group or mothers group instead of the usual gifts for the kids at term 4 breakup ( gifts then will be interested in for about 5mins!) think about mums/dads combining the $5 or so for the kris Kringle gift and instead donating the money to a preferred (poverty and children for example) charity of the group. (Last year my play group ended up donating $45 to a kids overseas aid charity.)
If you are the person with everything think about asking your loved one for a gift in lieu to your preferred charity instead. It means your charity gets much needed funds, you get the warm and fuzzy feeling knowing you have helped a much needed cause without having a gift you don’t want and your friend doesn’t have to rack their brain for a gift. A Win all round! (Contact your preferred charity for more info).
Off to check those links now…
Ann
Thanks for adding to the conversation Ann – great ideas!
Perhaps the charity guidelines on what they will/won’t accept are regional? Here in Sydney Salvos still take baby stuff in good condition (including soft toys) although Vinnies has really tightened up on what they will take.
Hi Nicole,
I don’t think I have ever commented on your blog before (but I love it and your book which I purchased a couple of weeks ago).
I just wanted to say good on you for supporting the ASRC and bringing attention to the work of the organisation. I was a legal volunteer at the ASRC for 3 years prior to having kids and I can personally vouch for the amazing work that they do with incredibly limited funding. It is an wonderful community of people working together. Your post reminds me that even if I am not able to volunteer my time at the moment there are still ways I can support them.
St Kilda Mums sounds like a fabulous idea too. Thanks for the info.
Ann
Thanks Ann! I find the way we treat refugees in this country do distressing. I used to be a lot more active (with my time) prior to moving out to the burbs, but I am keen to find more ways that I can contribute.
Hi – I came across Eastern Emergency Relief when I was looking to donate some baby stuff and household goods and wanted to find out how to get them to domestic violence victims etc who would really need the assistance. You donate to them and then as welfare groups/shelters need things they go to them. Just checked their website and they take less baby stuff now but do take working electrical items which lots of other places won’t/can’t.
http://www.easternemergency.org.au/index.htm
Thanks for adding to the list Yvette. Hopefully we can find places all over Australia!
Thanks for letting me know about St Kilda Mums. I have a number of things cluttering up my cupboards and hallways which I can happily donate.
I am sure they will be very grateful for your donations Di!
I asked Jessie from St Kilda mums about other organisations across the country that do a similar and role and this was her response:
As far as we know we are the only org of our type but we would love to francise what we do. There is Blessings in a bag in Singapore however…https://www.facebook.com/blessingsinabag
The other similar org is Aussie Backpacks https://www.facebook.com/backpacks4aussiekids they do great stuff.
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