Clothing donation bins: Melbourne

DiscoJango on 30/09/2017 - 11:09
Last edited 30/09/2017 - 12:51 by 1 other user

I am in the process of sorting out my old (some even brand new) clothes that i no longer wear. I want to donate these to poor\homeless people, however i cannot find a bin that does this.

To clarify: all the clothing bins i see, are for private companies who recycle or on-sell, or for an op-shop who will also sell the clothes. now i understand that many charities use the profits from these shops to fund their programs, however that is not what i am wanting to do.

i just want to give my clothes for free to someone who is less fortunate than me and could do with some basically brand new clothes!

any help would be appreciated, for me and the person on the receiving end.

an intersting article below if anyone wants some further reading:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/news/people-are-being-foo…

Fashion & Apparel

Comments

  • sparkles on 30/09/2017 - 12:23
    +3

    Do you have professional work standard clothes? Because you could donate them directly to

    http://www.wearforsuccess.org.au/

    • DiscoJango on 01/10/2017 - 10:51

      had a look through their website, im not sure if they accept donations from individuals, but it seems like they accept large scale corporate donations. ill forward this onto my hr department, im sure we could give them enough office attire to not need any more donations for years to come!

  • retiredfeline on 30/09/2017 - 12:26
    +1

    Have you tried posting on Freecycle? https://www.freecycle.org/browse/AU/Victoria

    • DiscoJango on 01/10/2017 - 10:55

      not a bad website, good intentions, but seems no different to gumtree? i know last time i got a new fridge, i just put the old one on the nature strip, and an ad on gumtree saying free fridge with location, came back from work and it was gone! easy! saved me the hassle of trying to dispose of it myself :D

      • retiredfeline on 01/10/2017 - 11:48

        If you wish to operate that way on Freecycle you can too but there may be no takers leaving you with a fridge on the nature strip council may fine you for, same as Gumtree.

        Usually I just pick a taker and tell them I'm leaving the package outside my place before their selected time.

  • unco on 30/09/2017 - 12:59

    I've had this same issue too. Just a couple of weeks ago we cleaned out our wardrobes and wanted to put them in the charity donation bins nearby but a quick google came up with that same article and now I'm not sure of putting it there.

    I've held off until I can find a proper charity donation bin. Keen to hear what people suggest here.

  • bluesky on 30/09/2017 - 16:02

    Wow! And all the while I assume they go to charity. Thanks for highlighting the issue.

    This place with a number of bins near my supermarket has prominent signs about being under surveillance, so people do not "take" things donated, I guess. It would be ironic if it is not for charity - because then, they are taking from people who may think the goods go to charity. I am not certain if this is the case, but will find out.

  • AlienC on 30/09/2017 - 17:13

    Honestly try gumtree or Facebook buy and sell or pay it forward groups.

  • 87percent on 30/09/2017 - 18:33

    Go to Melbourne Central and take your pick of homeless people..

  • the-mal on 30/09/2017 - 18:39

    There are a few charities setup for specifically this purpose.

    https://www.clothesline.org.au

    http://www.hoa.drugarm.com.au

    http://www.upliftbras.org

    They're the ones I know of from the top of my head, there are bound to be others.

    Also, some Op Shops offer their clothes for free to those who can't afford to pay - it's worth checking with the charity or Op Shop directly.

  • ihbh on 30/09/2017 - 18:51
    -1

    Give them to Vinnies and they'll sell them for a nominal amount.

  • Mumbles on 30/09/2017 - 19:00

    Charities are still accepting clothes. Just walk instore with your garbage bag full of clothes and ask if they accept it. Worst comes to worse they will tell you which other charities are accepting clothes. Alternatively make a telephone enquiry.

    I'm currently volunteering at a large op-shop (not in Melbourne). Clothing bins are not very popular at small op-shops as they don't have the volunteers to process the clothing bins. Its very time intensive, requires tonnes of retail/storage space and a vehicle for transport to a processing/distribution centre.

  • Speckled Jim on 01/10/2017 - 10:31
    +1

    This very topic was raised the other day on ABC. There's a Facebook page, but unsure if there's coverage outside Sydney as I don't do FB.

  • DiscoJango on 01/10/2017 - 10:42
    +1

    thanks everyone for your comments. seems like im not the only one in this situation! i guess i didnt think about the logistical part of it (sorting + transport). i thought they just dump all the clothes into a giant warehouse of sorts, and people could rummage through and take what they want?

    and yes, some of them are business clothes, the only reason im getting rid of them is that ive lost weight and now they appear baggy. however if they are good enough for me to wear to work, they are good enough for anyone else!

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