Donate goods
Donating goods to You Matter
Thank you for considering donating goods to You Matter. Your generosity plays a vital role in helping us create safe, dignified, and welcoming homes for women and children rebuilding their lives after family violence.
Before you offer your items, we ask that you take a few minutes to read the following guidelines.
Our Philosophy
We believe every woman and child we support deserves to feel valued, respected, and safe in their new space. This includes providing them with thoughtfully chosen, clean, and functional furnishings – just as you would expect in your own home.
Please ask yourself: “Would I be happy to receive this item if I were starting over in a new home?”
If the answer is yes, then it’s likely suitable. If not, we kindly ask you to reconsider donating it.
What we CAN accept:
We consistently need:
- Contemporary, modern-style furniture and homewares
- Neutral or soft-coloured items that can be easily mixed and matched
- Items in good, gently used, or new condition
- Lightweight furniture that fits well in small spaces
- Items from pet-free homes, where possible, due to allergy sensitivities
Please ensure:
- Items are clean, complete, and fully functional
- Items are safe and suitable for smaller homes or units
- Mattresses and beds meet health and safety requirements
- Items are placed on the ground floor if no lift is available for collection*
* Please note that our collection team are generous volunteers, not professional removalists, so we kindly ask for your support in ensuring items are easily accessible and ready for safe pickup.
Our collection days are Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Items we happily accept:
- Bedside tables and dressing tables
- Chests of drawers
- Coffee tables and side tables
- Cots (must meet Australian Standard AS/NZS 2172-2003)
- Decor items – cushions, vases, throw rugs, artwork
- Floor and table lamps*
- Kitchenware: cutlery, crockery, utensils, cookware, cake tins, storage containers
- Queen, Double and Single mattresses and bed bases / frames
- Queen, Double and Single size sheet sets and doona covers
- Small bookcases
- Small desks
- Small dining tables and dining chairs (2-4 or 4-6 persons)
- Small sofas and armchairs
- Small TV units and Smart TVs
- Towels and kitchen linen (new or as new)
- Towels and kitchen linen
* NOTE: Used electrical appliances must be tested and tagged by You Matter in accordance with Australian standards – we would appreciate it if you could contribute funds towards the testing and tagging of your item.
What we CANNOT accept:
To maintain the quality, consistency, and safety of the homes we create, we are unable to accept:
- Antique or older-style furniture
- Oversized, heavy, or bulky items not suitable for small dwellings
- Damaged, stained, broken, or incomplete items
- Items with strong odours, pet hair, or excessive wear and tear
We are currently reviewing and rehoming stock that no longer aligns with the needs of our clients. Our team may decline items if they are unsuitable. You Matter strives to avoid diverting items to landfill along with the costs associated with doing this.
We appreciate your understanding and compassion when this happens – it ensures the dignity of the families we support remains at the heart of everything we do.
How to Donate
If you have items you’d like to donate, please follow the steps below to help us assess their suitability:
1. Email us at donategoods@youmatter.org.au with the following information:
Email subject line: Your name and suburb (e.g. Jane Smith – Preston) ** VERY IMPORTANT **
In the body of the email, please include:
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- Your full address (for collection assessment)
- Your mobile number
- A list of the items you’re offering and their condition
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Attach photos and description of each item
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- For mattresses, we require photos of both sides to meet health, safety and compliance standards
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Our team will review your submission and be in touch to confirm if we are able to accept the items and to coordinate collection or drop-off.
Thank you
Every donation makes a real difference.
Your kindness helps transform houses into Havens of Hope where women and children can feel safe, valued, and ready to begin again.
Together, we are creating change – one home at a time.
To make pickup smooth and safe, please see our Goods Donation Information Sheet.
Business Donations
If your business has surplus inventory, sample stock, returned items, shop marked, ex-display or unsaleable stock, then we can distribute these goods to families in need.
To discuss a business partnership with You Matter, please email us at donategoods@youmatter.org.au and we can arrange a meeting as soon as possible to discuss how we can work together to create Havens of Hope for a brighter future for women and children.
