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 began collecting unwanted household items. They teamed up with Bakhtar Community Organisation and AMES Australia, and by April 2026, more than 250 truckloads of donated goods from more than 250 donors have been 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 (on the south side of the Koonung Heights Uniting Church). The operating hours are Saturdays and Tuesdays from 12 to 3pm.
Items which are currently needed include:
Small appliances in working order such as irons, rice cookers, sandwich makers and juicers.
Washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves and TVs are also of great value but storage space means that we have to monitor consumer needs.
We can take bedding such as cushions, sheets, pillows, sheets, blankets and doonas but they must be clean and have no tears.
Small furniture items such as side tables are usually wanted, but we need to first check the needs for larger dressers, tables and chairs, beds, book cases and wardrobes. Please send photos to <RCNBrecycle@gmail.com>.
Household goods such as crockery, cutlery and cookware are in demand for new arrivals establishing homes.
Bicycles of all sizes which are clean and in working order are really useful donations.
Items which are currently Not Needed include:
Clothes
Lamps
Toys
An option for larger items is that they can be transported at donor cost to a recipient’s home in the south-eastern suburbs by arrangement
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 <RCNBrecycle@gmail.com>.