Eastern Emergency Relief Network Inc (EERN) is made up of community-based organisations in the cities of Boroondara, Whitehorse, Manningham, Maroondah, Knox, and Monash.
EERN holds a repository of emergency furniture, whitegoods and other household items, non-perishable food and personal hygiene items. They need good quality second-hand furniture and other household essentials, non-perishable food, financial assistance and, of course, volunteers.
Many people, thinking perhaps that their items will make their way to those in need, arrange for a hard rubbish collection via their local councils. However, usable, and even new, furniture items are immediately compacted and crushed in the pickup trucks. EERN, which has no paid workers, is overseen by a Committee of Management from diverse backgrounds – President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and general committee members.
EERN is run and operated entirely by volunteers. In recent years there have been reports of third parties collecting donations for charities, with only a small percentage of money raised going to the Charity.
EERN does not use third parties to collect and/or raise donations, nor does it employ people to fundraise; it only uses donations for capital projects or to directly support its stated objective. EERN receives some funding from the City of Whitehorse, but no recurrent Federal or State Government funding. Its financial viability is dependent upon donations, grants from philanthropic and charitable Trusts and Service clubs, and fundraising. As a registered charity, all donations to EERN ($2 and above) are tax deductible.
EERN’s warehouse has space limitations, so it is important that only needed items are collected. Furniture and other household items in poor condition are not acceptable and will ultimately require valuable funds to dispose of them. The final decision as to whether or not to accept donated items is at the discretion of their drivers and crew at the time of pickup, or the Warehouse Coordinator if the items are delivered directly to the warehouse.
Donations can be delivered to EERN’s warehouse between 9am and 1pm, Monday to Friday.
Alternatively, to arrange for items to be collected by volunteers, contact the warehouse during business hours on 9874 8433.
Acceptable Items (in good condition/working order) include:
• Household furniture
• Whitegoods
• Electrical appliances– microwaves, TVs, toasters, kettles, lamps, heaters, fans, etc. All donated electrical appliances must be electrically and functionally tested and tagged by EERN in accordance with Australian Standards. Those with frayed, torn or damaged cords are not accepted. EERN does not have the resources to repair damaged appliances.
• Beds/mattresses, Bedding/linen and blankets.
• Household utensils – crockery, cutlery and cooking equipment in good clean condition.
• Non-perishable food items and toiletries.