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Refugee Families Support

Recycle your unwanted items for needy new arrivals in Melbourne.

Our Refugee Families Support project is progressing well and as of February 2023, we’ve sent 70 truckloads of donated goods that have helped thousands of families settle into their new homes. It’s thanks to many generous donors who have committed their redundant household goods to us rather than landfill.

RCNB aiding Melbourne refugee communities

Posted by Jeanette Leigh

Kahbul fell in August 2021. Soon after 2000 refugees arrived in Australia. The government and other philanthropic organisations had to work at speed to settle them into Australian life. The government provided the basics, but it wasn’t enough to sustain families so Rotary Club of North Balwyn stepped up.

The government and other philanthropic organisations had to work at speed to settle the Afghan people into Australian life. The government provided the basics, but it wasn’t enough to sustain families so Rotary Club of North Balwyn began collecting household items. They teamed up with Bakhtar Community Organisation and AMES Australia, and by February 2023, 68 truckloads of donated goods from more than 200 donors were delivered to new arrivals.

If you have goods you would like to donate, they can be delivered to our Collection Centre located at 417 Belmore Road, Balwyn (adjacent to Koonung Heights Uniting Church). The operating hours are Saturdays from noon to 1.30pm and Tuesdays from 2pm to 5pm.

Items which are currently needed include:

Appliances in working order such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves and TVs.

Bedding such as cushions, sheets, pillows, blankets and doonas.

Small furniture items such as side tables, dressers.

Household goods such as crockery, cutlery and cookware.

Bicycles of all sizes which need to be clean and in working order.

Dining tables and chairs.

Items which are currently Not Needed include:

Clothes

Lamps

Toys

It would be appreciated if all items are clean and in working order.

An option for larger items is that they could be transported at donor cost to a recipient’s home in the south-eastern suburbs by arrangement, or to the Bakhtar Community Organisation warehouse at 61 Heyington Crescent, Noble Park early on Saturday for Sunday afternoons. We are happy to arrange the transport.

If that is not financially possible, for large items donors should email RIMERN at donatedgoods@rimern.org.au or EEN warehouse@easternemergency.org.au. Both are excellent organisations with trucks to collect donated items to help refugees and other needy people.

Please don’t commit good items to landfill. Help us to recycle them through needy recipients.

If you’d like to help with distribution or by donating goods, please contact Rowan McClean - rowanmcclean@gmail.com

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