Donations in Kind (Footscray West) 500th container since 2000
Donations in Kind (DIK) an activity of Rotary Australia World Community Service Limited (RAWCS) grew out of the compassion and concern of returning overs
eas volunteers. This recycling and reuse program, focussing on health & education involves the collection, sorting, packing, dispatch and distribution of donated items to countries in need of these goods.
eas volunteers. This recycling and reuse program, focussing on health & education involves the collection, sorting, packing, dispatch and distribution of donated items to countries in need of these goods. Many goods and products, for which organisations in Australia have no further use, are valuable commodities in needy countries overseas and in some regions within Australia.
The West Footscray Depot recently forwarded their 500th container over the first 16 years of this century. It was a medical containier to Timor Leste. Our president and previous chairman of RAWCS was present to see it shipped out.
Donations in Kind have facilities not only in Footscray West, but also in Geelong in District 9780. 
Donations in Kind is a project of international significance providing urgently needed goods to areas of need. The project aids neighbouring countries and provinces that are poor and in need or those decimated by conflict or natural disaster. Such communities may have been stripped of the most basic requirements of drink, food and shelter. Rotary District 9780 embarked on a project to send container loads of goods such as building materials, tools, clothing, medical equipment, education aids and stationary supplies to needy areas.
The Rotary clubs of Geelong pooled resources to coordinate the collection, sorting and distribution of the donated goods and are the focal point for the district. Local Rotary clubs are encouraged to seek out surplus supplies, collect and transport them to Geelong for distribution and then raise the funds required to freight the containers to their final destination. There is also a collection point in Ballarat, run by the Rotary Club fo Ballarat East, where goods are stored, sorted loaded and transported to Geelong as required.
DIK Geelong sends out 10-15 containers per year, with the number limited essentially by available funding. Our club has used DIK on many occasions, to ship hospital and educational materials to Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu. We consider that the help from DIK Geelong, and Ballarat East to be incredibly good value for money.
Co-ordinators of DIK, Rotary District 9780: Anton Van Doornik Geelong Jeff Miller Ballarat East.