It can be so much easier to let go of items in our home when we know that they’re going to a good home. Here are some organisations which we discuss at our downsizing seminars. These definitely fit the bill when it comes to finding a good home for accumulated possessions!
Furniture and household items
Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services may accept donation of furniture items – call them on (02) 6248 8577 to enquire about whether this is currently possible. The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul also provide pickup services.
Good quality pushbikes
Girls on Bikes helps migrant and refugee women how to ride.
Used guitars
Guitars gathering dust facilitates the restoration of old guitars so they can be re-used in music education programs for kids who can’t afford new instruments.
Gently used kids books, educational materials
Buk Bilong Pikinini collect items for schools and kids in PNG. Gently used or new kids’ books can be dropped off at the Papua New Guinea High Commission in Yarralumla.
Other books
Lifeline provides pickup service for books in wine boxes, archive boxes or green bags.
Fabrics
Sew for a Girl Canberra accepts non see-through cotton fabric and some notions.
Work and special occasion clothes
Best Dressed (temporarily located in Manuka, usually in Tuggeranong) will take donations of gently used work-ready and special occasion clothes to help people break the poverty cycle.
Bras and toiletries
For women in disadvantaged communities a bra is often unobtainable or unaffordable. Support the girls collects new and second hand bras (as well as toiletries) and sends them wherever they have requests.
Kids clothes and recently purchased baby items
Roundabout Canberra collects donations on behalf of not-for-profit organisations, to distribute high quality items for babies and children.
Recent computers
The Tech Shed (formerly Charity Computers) refurbishes computers for pensioners and low income earners. They also collect all manner of gadget cables.
Specific items
Givit matches specific donations you’d like to give to a worthy cause with items needed by specific charities and non-profits throughout Australia. Your local Buy Nothing Group can also be a great way to find a home for a “hard to place” item. There are several of these groups active in Canberra.
Historically significant items
Consider giving to a museum or local historical society.
Please do contact us if you know of other worthy organisations needing donations which I should add to the list. I’d love to hear from you!
