Sponsor a ME Pack
Sometimes children arrive in care with only the clothes on their back. Our backpacks and nappy bags provide the essentials for a child during a time of great uncertainty. Each ME pack includes essentials and items of comfort, to support a child entering out of home care or emergency accommodation, and costs just $100.00 to complete.
Each ME Pack provides a child with around $480 worth of material aid. The value of hope and self esteem = priceless.
Sponsor a School Essentials (SE) Pack
For many children, the return to school is a period filled with eager anticipation and excitement, offering the opportunity to reunite with friends and share enjoyable experiences. However, for those who have recently endured the trauma of displacement or relocation without their belongings, starting at a new school without the essential supplies can cause significant anxiety and stress.
No child should feel anxious, embarrassed, or frightened to attend class the next morning only because he or she doesn’t have basic school supplies. A simple pack full of school essentials can make a world of difference to a child’s learning experience.
Your donation of $36 dollars will give a child in out-of-home care a customised pack containing their choice of new school supplies.
Donate to B4VK
We rely heavily on donations. Please choose an amount you would like to donate. We have given some examples of the impact your generous gift will make.
Donate Goods
B4VK gratefully accept excellent quality goods for our backpacks and nappy bags. Please check our Facebook page for items that we need on What We Need Wednesday.
We believe that children who receive our packs deserve goods in excellent or new condition. We know that you’ll agree, anything not of the condition we give will be utilised elsewhere.
We have a standardised set of goods in each of our nappy bags and backpacks that each child entering out of home care receives. You can see what a typical backpack or nappy bag might look like below.
Baby brush/comb (new only please)
Baby formula (sample sizes only, pre-packaged please)
Baby wash and moisturiser – up to 250ml(new only please)
Baby wipes (new and unopened please)
Baby wraps or swaddles (new or like new)
Backpacks (Large – new or like new)
Large sports bags for our teenage packs
Large nappy bags
Bibs (new or like new please)
Blanket or blankie (new or like new please)
Body wash/soap (new only please) up to 250ml
Books – reading (new or like new please) – All ages including baby ABC books right the way through to young adult
Clothing (new or like new please) -Casual and stretchy is best! We love trackpants, leggings, hoodies, jumpers, long sleeve or short sleeve casual tops, shorts and singlets
Baby clothing ages sizes 0000-0 – including onesies (unisex is best for these sizes).
Boys and girls clothing 1-18 as well as Women’s S M L and Men’s S M L
Socks (new only) all sizes as above
Underwear (new in sealed packaging please) all sizes as above
NB: Pants over size 10 must have an elasticised waistband.Please no formal wear, tailored clothing, dress-ups, costumes or clothing with references to “mum” or “dad.”
Deodorant – (roll on – new only please) NB: we cannot accept aerosols or glass.
Drink Bottles – for our School Essentials and backpacks (new only please) suitable for all ages.
Dummy/pacifier (new only please) – Newborn to 18 months
Facewashers/flannels/sponges/shower puffs (new only please)
Feeding bottle/sippy cup (new only please)
Hairbrush/comb (new only please)
Hair-styling products (new only please)
Hand Towel and/or bath towel (new only please)
Lip balm (new only please in sealed packaging)
Lunch boxes – for our School Essentials and backpacks (new only please) – all ages
Nappies– Opened or new is great – each nappy bag gets 7 nappies
Nappy rash cream (new only please)
Office Stationery e.g. Postage stamps, envelopes, A4 and A3 paper
Tea/ coffee/ biscuits
Sanitary pads (new only please)
Shampoo and conditioner (new only please) – up to 250ml
Shower gel/soap (new only please) – up to 250ml
Sleepwear or pyjamas (new only please)
Small tissue packs (individually sealed please)
Soft toys or teddybears (new only please)
Stationery (new only please)
Combination padlocks
Compass
Crayons
Erasers
Exercise or binder books
Glue sticks
Highlighter pens
Pencil case
Pens and lead pencils
Pencils or textas
Ruler/math-o-mat
Scissors
Sharpeners
Stationery bags/book/library bags (new only)
Toiletry bags (new only)
Toothbrushes (new only please)
NB: We unfortunately cannot accept toothbrush multipacks
Toothpaste (new only please small sizes up to 110g).
Kids toothpastes, (e.g. Macleans milk teeth) right through to adult.
NB: No whitening toothpaste please, or toothpaste for sensitive teeth
Torches (new or like new please) – With new AA or AAA batteries
NB: No button batteries please
Books/Stationery (new only please)
Colouring, craft and exercise/activity/scrap books
Diary or notepad (new only please)
Games/puzzles/toys/cards (new only please)- All ages, compact size, to fit in a backpack
Hat (new only please) – Beanies, or summer hats/caps all ages
Jewellery (new only please)
Pillowcases (new or like new please)
Toys (new only please) – All ages, compact sized, to fit in a backpack, no button batteries please.
Due to size/safety/hygiene/appropriateness we regretfully cannot accept any of the following items:
No adult jeans or adult tailored pants
No children’s jeans without elastic waist from size 10 up
No bottles of shampoo/conditioner over 250ml (we have limited space in the back packs)
No razors/ aerosols/ sprays
Nothing in glass
Nothing flammable
Nothing toxic
No torches or toys with button batteries
Nothing with alcohol in it (eg. Perfume, some mouthwash)
No evening wear/ fancy children’s clothes
No clothing with references to “mum or dad”
No women’s size 16 + / Ladies XL, XXL etc.
No preloved soft toys (we have an abundance thank you)
No clothing, colouring books, stationary with themes of violence, or weaponry
Nothing with stains/ tears/ rips, nothing in disrepair
No sharp items
No nail polish
No used underwear or socks
No multipacks of toothbrushes
B4VK has a number of handy drop-off locations around Victoria and beyond, check the list below to find a B4VK contact near you. Please SMS or call your location contact to arrange a drop-off time.
If you or your workplace are interested in becoming a drop-off point for B4VK, please contact us.
Bairnsdale Keryn 0409 701 021
Ballarat Margy 0427 346 816
Ballarat Lisa 0439 656 238
Bendigo Dot 0408 590 087
Berwick Jenny 0417 513 905
Binginwarri/Welshpool Marilyn 041 062 4355
Bright Toni 0427 552 265
Bulleen Wilma 0410 890 465
Chadstone Rhonda 0448 215 537
Craigieburn Kym 0422 233 921
Cranbourne after hours Sally 0412 205 943
Cranbourne Mon-Fri 9:30am-4pm B4VK HQ 8712 9545
Eltham Janine 0403 027 980
Hoppers Crossing Julie 040 781 9301
Keysborough Lenise 0411 139 564
Lang Lang Jody 0418 518 789
Narre Warren Wendy (Casey Aged Care) 9705 2589
Noble Park Dawn 0407 325 030
Preston Gina 0409 558 221
Rochester Belinda 0479 114 275
Devon Meadows Michelle 0418 999 408
Tooradin Loretta 0410 787 114
Vermont Kylie 041 425 7747
Warrnambool Jennifer and Peter 0401 611 123
Wheelers Hill Barb and Sharyn 0418 342 265
Williamstown Bea 0405 403 359
Yarragon Carol 0407 978 336
Make a Bequest
By leaving a bequest to Backpack 4 Vic Kids, you can help us continue our important work and make a real difference in the lives of children in need. Your bequest will ensure that we can continue to provide essential supplies to those who need them most, and help us to expand our reach to more children in the future.
Leaving a bequest is a simple process that can be done through your will. Your bequest can be for any amount and can be designated to support a specific program or area of our work. No matter the size of your bequest, it will have a lasting impact on the lives of children in need.
Leaving a bequest to Back pack 4 Vic Kids is a powerful way to leave a legacy of kindness and compassion. By supporting our organisation, you can help ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.
Thank you for considering a bequest to Backpack 4 Vic Kids.
Your support will make a world of difference.