24 Christmas Donations to Support Local Charities
Give a gift that truly matters this Christmas — support local charities making a difference in Melbourne.
The festive season is full of sparkle, celebration and goodwill — and it’s also the perfect time to give back. Every year, I like to choose a few Melbourne charities to support at Christmas. It’s such a simple way to share kindness and feel part of something bigger.
There are so many wonderful charities and grassroots organisations doing important work across Melbourne, far more than we could ever fit into a single article. If you have a charity close to your heart, please let us know. We’re always happy to add to this list and share more ways to give back at Christmas.
Find a Christmas Donation Appeal to Support this year
1. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has long been a cornerstone of community support in Melbourne. Their Christmas Appeal helps provide food hampers, gifts, and essential items for families doing it tough over the festive season.
This year, you can make a direct difference by giving a Street Survival Pack — a simple but powerful gift filled with essentials like socks and undies. For just $12, your kindness helps restore dignity and hope to someone facing homelessness.
I’ve seen firsthand how the Salvation Army supports people in crisis. The Street Survival Pack is such a small cost for something that can really lift someone’s day. It’s a thoughtful Christmas charity gift idea, perfect for a Kris Kringle.
How to help: Visit their website to donate or purchase a Street Survival Pack or other Christmas giving packs.
2. St Mary’s House of Welcome
Located in Fitzroy, St Mary’s House of Welcome offers meals, showers, and support to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, or social isolation. This Christmas, they’re once again running their Gingerbread House of Welcome fundraising project in partnership with Brunetti Classico, Chocolatier Australia, and Bisko Bakehouse.
You can order delicious gingerbread houses, chocolates, and buttery shortbread — perfect for gifting or enjoying yourself — with all proceeds supporting their Welcome Relief meals program and emergency aid for those in need over Christmas and the New Year.
How to help: Shop the Gingerbread House of Welcome range or donate directly to support their Christmas programs.
3. The Smith Family
For children from disadvantaged backgrounds, Christmas can be a difficult time. The Smith Family’s Toy and Book Appeal provides gifts and educational materials to ensure kids have something special under the tree. Every dollar donated helps change a child’s future.
How to Help: Donate toys, books, or money directly through their website.
4. Sacred Heart Mission
Operating in St Kilda, Sacred Heart Mission provides meals, accommodation, and support services to those experiencing homelessness. During the Christmas period, they host festive lunches for people who might otherwise go without.
How to Help: Volunteer to serve meals, donate, or contribute to their Christmas Appeal.
Related reading: How to Help People Experiencing Homelessness in Melbourne
5. Foodbank Victoria
Food insecurity affects thousands of Melburnians, and Foodbank Victoria plays a crucial role in addressing this. They distribute food to those in need, ensuring families can enjoy a nourishing Christmas meal.
Fill a trolley or gift a hamper for a family whose shelves are empty. You do the shopping, Foodbank will pack and deliver the food hampers to make someone’s Christmas!
How to Help: Donate non-perishable food items, funds, or your time. Gift a hamper of groceries to feed a family at Christmas.
6. The Lighthouse Foundation
The Lighthouse Foundation provides young people experiencing homelessness with a safe place to live and the support they need to thrive. This Christmas, their appeal focuses on helping young people feel cared for during a season that can be especially isolating.
How to Help: Donate online or sponsor a young person in their care.
7. Berry Street
Berry Street supports children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or trauma. Their Christmas Gift Appeal collects donations to provide these kids with gifts and experiences that help create positive memories during the holidays.
How to Help: Donate funds or contribute new, unwrapped gifts suitable for children and teens.
8. Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)
The ASRC supports asylum seekers and refugees with food, legal aid, and employment assistance. This Christmas, you can help provide festive food hampers and gifts to individuals and families rebuilding their lives in Melbourne.
How to Help: Contribute to their Christmas appeal or donate non-perishable food items and toiletries.
9. RSPCA Victoria
Christmas isn’t just for humans—our furry friends need love too! The RSPCA cares for animals in need, from cats and dogs to wildlife. Donations during the festive season help provide shelter, medical care, and rehoming services.
How to Help: Donate online or consider adopting a pet this Christmas.
10. St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies)
Vinnies’ Christmas Appeal focuses on assisting people facing financial hardship. Your donations help provide meals, housing support, and other essential services. Vinnies also has op shops across Melbourne where you can donate pre-loved items or purchase gifts, with proceeds supporting their programs.
How to Help: Donate online, contribute to a gift hamper, or volunteer.
11. Kids Under Cover
Kids Under Cover helps prevent youth homelessness by building studio accommodation and providing scholarships. This Christmas, their fundraising efforts focus on giving at-risk youth a stable foundation to succeed.
How to Help: Make a financial donation or support their annual Cubby House Challenge fundraiser.
12. Make-A-Wish Australia
Make-A-Wish grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Each wish is designed to bring hope, strength, and joy. This holiday season, you can help make dreams come true for children and their families.
How to Help: Donate or participate in their fundraising event to help grant a child’s wish this Christmas.
13. Australian Red Cross
The Red Cross offers a range of services, from disaster relief to support for isolated individuals. Their Christmas appeal focuses on bringing hope and assistance to those in need, both locally and internationally.
How to Help: Make a donation or volunteer your time.
14. Operation Santa (Kmart & The Salvation Army)
Kmart’s Operation Santa partners with The Salvation Army to provide gifts to children who might otherwise miss out. Shoppers can select a gift tag from the tree in-store and purchase a gift for a child in need.
This is a great one to get the kids involved in!
How to Help: Visit your nearest Kmart to participate.
15. West Welcome Wagon
West Welcome Wagon provides material aid and social support to asylum seekers living in Melbourne’s west. Their volunteers deliver furniture, household items, food, clothing, and toys directly to families, helping them settle into the community. Over Christmas, they run special appeals to bring extra joy to those starting anew in Australia.
How to help: Donate household goods, contribute financially, or volunteer with their delivery and sorting teams.
16. Wintringham
Wintringham offers specialised housing and care services for older people who have experienced homelessness or are at risk of it. They provide safe accommodation and support across Melbourne and regional Victoria. At Christmas, donations help ensure residents enjoy festive meals, companionship, and a sense of belonging.
How to help: Donate online to support their aged care and housing programs.
17. The Big Issue
Many Melburnians will recognise the friendly faces selling The Big Issue magazine around the city. This social enterprise creates meaningful employment for people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage, or marginalisation. Buying a magazine is a simple yet powerful way to give back directly.
How to help: Buy a magazine from your local vendor, subscribe, or donate to support their community programs.
18. Travellers Aid Australia
Travellers Aid provides support for those with mobility challenges, ensuring everyone can travel safely and independently. Their services are especially important during the festive season when many need extra help to visit family or attend community events.
How to Help: Donate online to support their accessible transport services.
Read more about Traveller’s Aid and our visit here.
19. The Giving Machine
Yes, this is a vending machine for charities! Partnering with local charities, each Giving Machine features essential items priced from $5 to $200. Your contributions support various causes, and all donations are fully directed to nonprofits, covering all overhead costs.
How it works:
- Visit the Giving Machines at Highpoint Shopping Centre and Westfield Fountain Gate
- Choose to donate essential items
- Swipe your card to recie the physical gift, and make a difference!
20. Variety – the Children’s Charity
This year, Variety celebrates 50 years in Australia, marking five decades of supporting children who are sick, disadvantaged, or living with disability. In Victoria, their programs help families access medical equipment, mobility aids, inclusive play spaces, and practical support that can change a child’s everyday life.
At Christmas, Variety offers a range of donation options that help kids feel included in the joy of the season — from funding essential equipment to contributing to experiences that create happy memories. It’s a wonderful way to share the spirit of giving with a child who needs extra care.
Christmas charity gift idea:
Make a donation in someone’s name to help fund equipment or programs for a Victorian child in need — a meaningful Kris Kringle that makes a real difference.
21. St John Ambulance Victoria
Through bushfires, floods, medical emergencies and more, St John Ambulance Victoria volunteers are there when it matters most. They’re the quiet heroes at the heart of countless crisis responses, providing lifesaving first aid and emotional support to people in their most vulnerable moments. Their work saves lives — and even one preventable loss is one too many.
This Christmas, you can help equip and train these volunteers so they’re ready for whatever the next emergency brings.
How to help: Make a donation to support volunteer training and essential equipment.
22. The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation
The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation helps ensure kids receive the advanced treatment they need right here in Australia. With community support, the RCH funds cutting-edge equipment, ground-breaking research and family-centred care that makes an extraordinary difference to children facing serious illness.
How to help: Make a donation to support their Christmas Appeal
23. Share the Dignity
Share the Dignity supports women, girls, and people experiencing homelessness or escaping difficult circumstances by providing essential hygiene products and practical support. Their Christmas campaign, It’s in the Bag, invites Australians to sponsor a bag filled with everyday necessities — a simple act that helps someone feel seen, valued, and supported at a time of year that can be especially tough. This year you can add a personal message to their virtual bauble wall.
Christmas charity gift idea:
Sponsor an It’s in the Bag pack to give the gift of kindness and ensure a vulnerable woman or girl receives the essentials she needs this festive season.
24. Vision Australia – Carols by Candlelight
Vision Australia delivers vital services and support for people who are blind or have low vision, helping them live independently and confidently.
Their much-loved Carols by Candlelight at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl is not just a cherished Melbourne tradition — it’s also a major annual fundraiser. Every ticket sold helps Vision Australia provide life-changing services for children and adults who are blind or have low vision.
We watch the carols on TV each year and make a donation online or over the phone. It’s always exciting to see the funds rising higher and higher throughout the night as you sing along.
How to help: Buy a ticket or donate online.
Stay Scam-Savvy When Donating This Christmas
To help keep your Christmas giving safe and stress-free, here are some useful tips from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC):
- Search for the charity on the ACNC Charity Register to make sure it’s legitimate and properly regulated.
- Use the website link provided on the Register to donate directly, rather than through links sent by text, email or social media.
- Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or responding to unsolicited donation requests.
- Never share your banking details, full name or other personal information with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly, even if they sound convincing.
- If someone claims to be collecting for a charity, ask for their full name, role and identification, then double-check the charity’s official details online.
You can also visit Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre, for even more guidance on spotting – and avoiding – fake charity appeals.
With around 65,000 registered charities listed on the ACNC Charity Register, there are plenty of trustworthy places to direct your generosity. Taking an extra moment to check the details ensures your gift reaches the people who genuinely need it.
Why Giving Back Matters
Writing about these organisations reminds me how many quiet heroes are working behind the scenes all year round. And there’s so many more out there! Supporting them feels like giving a gift to the whole community, a small gesture that can make a real difference.
Heading off on your own Melbourne adventures? Join our Facebook Group and share your stories, ask questions and connect with others for further inspiration.
