New to Who

Who will your donation be new to this winter?

This winter Salvos Stores is aiming to redefine ‘New’. With Aussies now discarding over 6 tonnes of clothing every 10 minutes it is becoming increasingly important to consider the cost of overconsumption. We are seeking to challenge this head on by reframing how we look at preloved goods.

‘New To Me’ is a hashtag which has become popular online. It works to normalise secondhand shopping by framing preloved goods as new someone. Our New To Who campaign plays on this messaging by encouraging you to consider who your donation may be new to.

Our donors are at the heart of what makes Salvos Stores such a fantastic place to shop. Without your generosity we wouldn’t be able to continue to keep items in circulation or to support the fantastic work of The Salvation Army.

There are many reasons why you may choose to donate to us. Whether it be to declutter and let go of items that no longer bring joy, to get back some space in your home or simply for that good feeling that comes with giving back to an important cause.

But how often do you think about the person who will give your items a new home? Do you think about how excited they will be to find your once-loved cozy coat or gripping crime novel on their next Salvos visit?

Your donation is not only an item saved from landfill and a source of funding for important Salvation Army programs, it is also a future purchase that will be unearthed, enjoyed, and given a new life by someone else. In actual fact, it can only be those first two things if it is also the latter: something that someone will want to buy, to use, and to enjoy just like you once did.

If we forget to think about who might receive our donations when we donate them, we might also forget to stop and think about the quality and condition of these items. This means that we run the risk of donating things that cannot be reused or re-loved because they don’t have much life left in them. Things that our stores won’t be able to save from becoming waste or sell to support people in need, because they won’t spark that moment of excitement and joy for someone that comes with finding a new treasure that you want to bring home.

When donating to Salvos this winter, why not take a moment to think about who might buy them. We are dedicated to giving as many preloved items as possible new lives. So before you donate an item to us this Winter, we encourage you to take a moment to think about who your donation might go to. Ask yourself:

Would I give this to a friend?

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Asking ‘would I give this to a friend?’ is a great test to use when deciding whether to donate something to Salvos. However, if you need them we also have a few other tips and guidelines to help you make sure that we can accept your generous donations. Check out our donation guide before your next visit to us…

Salvos Stores Donation Guide

Three steps for donating to Salvos Stores:

1) Know what you can donate!

All Salvos Stores Stores welcome the following items:

✓ CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES: Clothing, footwear and accessories in good condition.

✓ BRIC-A-BRAC & HOMEWARES: Household items that are in good condition.

✓ TOYS, BOOKS, CDS, DVDS & VINYL: Items that are in good condition.

✓ ELECTRICAL GOODS: Small electrical items such as radios in good, working condition.

Bigger Salvos Stores stores can welcome the following items:

✓ WHITE GOODS: Items such as refrigerators in good working condition.

✓ QUALITY FURNITURE: Furniture that is not broken, stained or torn.

To find out exactly what your local store accepts as donations, find your nearest Salvos here and scroll down to the donation section for your store.

2) Check the quality of your donations!

Are they in good condition?

Are they clean and dry?

Are they working and complete?

Are they safe to handle?

3) Plan when and how you want to donate!

If you’re donating in store, make sure to:

• Donate during opening hours
• Place your donations in our branded donation bins OR hand them directly to a staff member
• Check whether the store accepts furniture/large items before dropping them off. You can do this by contacting the store or using the 'Store Locator' page on our website.

If you can’t donate in store during opening hours, consider our alternative ways to donate:

OPTION ONE: Book a FREE home collection! This is especially good for large items that might be difficult for you to transport to store yourself.

OPTION TWO: Post your donation to us using one of our FREE postal labels. You can download your label and find all the info here.

As always, thank you for donating to Salvos Stores. We are so grateful to every customer who donates to or buys from our stores. We couldn’t do what we do without you!