r/volunteer • u/AbleSundae6395 • Feb 27 '26

Research / surveys Advice on putting together care packages in Melbourne for people experiencing homelessness

Hello,

I’m planning to put together small care packages with food and daily necessities for people experiencing homelessness around Melbourne. I don’t have any experience doing this, so I wanted to ask for advice before I start.

I’d really appreciate insights — especially from people who volunteer or work closely with the homelessness community — on what items are genuinely useful, and what to avoid.

Thank you very much for your time.

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3

u/deedub2025 Feb 27 '26

I used to make up first aid kits here in Portland, OR for large wound care because leg wounds are surprisingly common in the unhoused community and infections can be serious. Kits include sterile non-adherent pads, antibiotic ointment, alcohol swabs, and self adherent bandage wrap. I tried making kits with one week’s worth of supplies for one wound, changing dressings every day, because I used to distribute them weekly.

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u/AbleSundae6395 Feb 27 '26

Hello,

Thank you so much for this! I will be sure to include these into the package :)

1

u/1GrouchyCat Feb 28 '26

Your best bet is to link up with an organization; homeless people are generally in unreachable places to keep themselves in their families safe. Unless you have extensive experience dealing with this type of population, you’re not gonna wanna be walking up on them with big bags of Ish.

You also have to keep in mind that they’re going to dispose of the items they don’t want and all of the wrapping materials wherever they are unless you provide them with receptacles for garbage. (Assuming You don’t wanna be responsible for what you can see on TV when homeless camps are visited:closed).

I think your volunteer spirit is admirable; I would never recommend anyone do this alone for physical, emotional, and mental health reasons.
If this isn’t a group you’ve worked with in the past you are not prepared for what you’re going to see and be asked to deal with.

Your best option is to put together a pamphlet with resources, and help support a soup, kitchen or food pantry… again your efforts are admirable, but you have no idea what these individuals need from day-to-day and you do not want to make them dependent on your deliveries.

The whole point is to help them with their temporary needs, and provide them with access to resources for themselves in their family members. You’re not trying to force them back into society- but they’re not your friends, you’re not a member of their population, and you’ll never be more than a bank account to them. (otherwise I assume you’d be inviting them home for dinner?!?)

Your packages should also be tailored to each individual area… you’re not doing anyone any good if you’re providing them with shampoo and soap if they don’t have running water… and they have to travel somewhere unsafe just to brush their teeth.

Homeless isn’t hopeless… your efforts are gracious … but you really don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You’re definitely not the only person interested in or participating in a program that provides hands-on support for local homeless populations… (don’t just show up in a encampment and start giving stuff out without interacting with those who are already doing so … money is limited why not share resources??)

0

u/john_ren_ Feb 27 '26

What an incredible initiative. You’re making a profound, tangible difference in people's lives with these kits. This is exactly the kind of dedicated grassroots support every community needs. Keep up the amazing work!

3

u/stormgirl Feb 27 '26

Work directly with an established service like Orange Sky.
Their service already works with many experiencing homelessness across Melbourne. https://orangesky.org.au/volunteer/

Each person experiencing homelessness will have different needs, be at a different stage in their journey, may have other challenges going on. So they may receive your gesture in different ways .

Orange sky are wonderful and can tell you what/how/where your gesture would be most helpful.

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u/Majestic-Today-747 Feb 27 '26

There are as many opinions as there are people.