DONATE GOODS

EERN provides emergency aid to those in need.

As there are space limitations in our warehouses, it is important that we collect only items that are suitable to our agency Members’ needs. These needs change from time to time.

The condition of items collected is important. Furniture and other household items in poor condition are not accepted as EERN will have to spend valuable funds to dispose of them.

The final decision as to whether or not to accept donated items is at the discretion of our drivers and crew at the time of pick-up or the Warehouse Coordinator (warehouse@easternemergency.org.au) if the items are delivered directly to the warehouse.

Delivery / Collection: Donations can be delivered to EERN’s warehouse between 9 am and 1 pm, Monday to Friday. If there are government mandated restrictions on meeting in groups (COVID-19 restrictions) in place, please call the warehouse before delivering goods.

Arrangements to have your donated items collected by our volunteers can be made by contacting our warehouse on 9874 8433 during business hours or by email to arrange a time for collection. This is preferred so we can assess if the items suit EERN’s needs.

Emailing a photo of each item to be donated with approximate sizes makes it much easier to decide if the furniture is suitable and then to arrange pick-ups.

Our collection areas are the local government areas of Whitehorse, Manningham, Maroondah, Knox, Monash and Boroondara

Items Accepted by EERN include:

  • Household furniture (in good condition)
  • White-goods (in good working order with no damage to outside)
  • Electrical Appliances (in working order) – microwaves, TVs, toasters, kettles, lamps, heaters, fans etc.

All donated electrical appliances will (and must) be electrically and functionally tested and tagged by EERN in accordance with Australian Standards. Appliances with cords that are frayed, torn or damaged are not accepted. EERN does not have the resources to repair damaged appliances

  • Bed bases complete with slats and rails.  NOT king size.
  • Two or 2 ½ seater couches and armchair settings with clean fabric and no stains, wear on the couch/chair arm upholstery or rips in the fabric.  They must be easily movable by two workers and cannot be moved down from a second floor/level. They must be ready for pickup at ground level.
  • Kitchen / dining table and chair settings up to six chairs. Round or square/rectangular. NOT oval shape.
  • Household utensils – small amounts of crockery, cutlery and cooking equipment in good clean condition. 
  • Non-perishable food items and toiletries

Due to the costs of disposing of unsuitable items, only good quality (no foam only) mattresses with NO marks/stains/cuts. NO king size mattresses.

Only (as) new bedding / linen, eiderdowns, pillows and blankets can be accepted.  

The pickup team has the right to refuse any items they assess as not suitable.

Items NOT accepted by EERN include the following:

  • mattresses with ANY stains, marks or cuts
  • old and worn mattresses even if clean
  • foam or latex mattresses
  • “saggy” mattresses
  • King-sized beds and mattresses
  • sofa beds, futons
  • spring bed bases
  • single chairs
  • “fifties style” Laminex tables
  • corner units of any size
  • desks larger than small student desks
  • large framed pictures and mirrors
  • bedheads without mattress base and end
  • anything longer than 1.8 metres high or over 1.8 metres long that is not a mattress or part of a bed base.
  • sewing machines
  • electrical goods that are in obvious need of repair or look worn out
  • electric blankets
  • computers and related items (see reference to Equipment Recycling Network below)
  • Cathode Ray Tube TVs (i.e. the big bulky old TVs)
  • TVs exceeding 80 cms (side to side)
  • radiograms, organs, speakers
  • double “side by side” door fridges
  • typewriters
  • bassinets, cots, highchairs, porta cots, car seats, prams, pushers etc (see reference to St Kilda Mums below who may take the items in very good condition)
  • disability aids
  • books/ records
  • clothing
  • shoes
  • toys
  • bric-a-brac
  • user consumables
  • outdoor items
  • anything that is fixed to a building e.g. stove, oven, dishwasher
  • carpet offcuts

ALTERNATIVE RECYCLING ORGANISATIONS:

Equipment Recycling Network Inc. (based in Ringwood) will accept anything to do with IT including laptops, desktops, keyboards, mice, small speakers and any amount of cabling. The above items do not have to be in working order and can be of any age.
The Equipment Recycling Network website is http://www.erni.asn.au Telephone (03) 9879 5211

St Kilda Mums (now based in Clayton) re-homes quality pre-loved nursery goods to support Victorian families in need. St Kilda Mums collect, sort and redistribute essential equipment for babies and school aged children such as prams, cots, car seats and highchairs. The list of what is acceptable is detailed at What We Can Rehome –  https://www.stkildamums.org/pages/donate-things

The Western Emergency Relief Network (WERN) provides a similar type of relief service to that of EERN in the western suburbs of Melbourne within the local government areas of Brimbank, Hobson’s Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley, Moorabool, Moreland and Wyndham. It is operated by Rotary Clubs within District 9800.
The WERN website is: wern.org Telephone 0411 228 311

The Helping Hands Mission Inc. (Helping Hands) raises funds for Emergency and Material Aid programs in Melbourne and country areas through sales in their six opportunity shops across Melbourne and in the country. They are based in Tullamarine and should be contacted if you live in the northern suburbs.

The Helping Hands website is https://www.helpinghandsmission.org.au. Telephone 1300 892 010.

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