Help donate what’s needed to homelessness shelters in Melbourne

The donations needed by people experiencing or at risk for homelessness alter depending on the weather. Sometimes a cold snap will mean more blankets are needed outside typical cold periods, or a heat wave will call for more sunscreen and hats.

Sleeping bags and jumpers donated via GIVIT

When the winter chill begins to set in, people sleeping rough around Melbourne feel the full brunt of it. Homeless shelters and other organisations need donations of blankets, jackets, beanies and other warm clothes to ensure these people have what they need to stay warm during winter.

Deborah Holmes and her team at Avalon Centre are one of many groups providing the homeless community with basic and essential items, as well as a friendly face to talk to each week.

Thanks to our friends at XTM Performance, GIVIT provided Avalon Centre with 25 jumbo sleeping bags and 20 ski jackets to help Melbourne’s most vulnerable residents. Each year, XTM Performance hold a “Heat the Homeless” appeal where thousands of jackets are donated to ensure people sleeping rough are warm and safe.

How you can help someone experiencing homelessness stay warm

There are still many, many jackets required, as well as beanies, gloves, socks and sleeping bags. GIVIT has a long list of winter warmers needed each year, and we do our best to provide them…but we always need your help to do it!

Please, consider donating your pre-loved, quality clothes to someone doing it tough. You can easily donate through GIVIT's website. Last season’s jackets and used clothing such as jeans and jumpers could keep someone experiencing homelessness warm.

Below are some requests for homelessness donations in Melbourne:

Today’s the perfect day to make a difference by giving exactly what’s needed. Check out what other homeless shelter donations are needed.

Can I donate clothing at any time?

Yes, using GIVIT’s website, you can offer physical items, including clothing donations, to a charity supporting people in need at any time. As the weather goes from cold to hot, charities will need specific items to support people, such as sunscreen for people at risk of homelessness or summer clothes for women and kids fleeing domestic violence with nothing. That’s why charities love GIVIT. They can request what’s needed when it’s needed most, and people who want to help know they are meeting real, tangible need.

Donate your clothes or furniture by responding to a request on our What’s Needed list. This will notify the organisation and is the easiest way to connect with someone who needs your item. If you can’t find a request to match your donation, there’s another way to donate. Head to the Donate Items page and submit the donation form for your item to appear in our online warehouse for any charity to reserve for people they support.

When not to donate clothes?

Donating clothing is helpful for organisations, however, sometimes bags of clothing can overwhelm local charities, and they may not have the resources to sort through clothes donations if it’s a busy time, such as Christmas or when a disaster hits a community.

After a natural disaster, it's crucial to donate only the items that are genuinely required. Unrequested donations can hinder recovery efforts in communities affected by any disaster. Recovery organisations, especially in times of disaster, don’t have the resources to receive, organise, store, and distribute these donations. Unfortunately, unsolicited items may end up in landfill.

Do charities pick up quality donations from home?

You can search for local charities or organisations that can collect your donation using our What’s Needed list. GIVIT is an online donation website. We don't pick up, sort or store donated items. The GIVIT website connects you with an organisation that needs your specific donation.

How do I donate clothes to homeless shelters near me?

To discover what donations are needed by homeless shelters near you, use our What’s Needed list and filter by Location, cause and donation category. If you can’t find a clothing donation that matches (such as different sizing), you can offer your donation so charities near you can reserve it for people they support if it’s needed. Don’t worry if this takes a bit of time, doesn’t mean your donation isn’t needed.

WINTER