West Welcome Wagon is a volunteer run not-for-profit dedicated to providing material aid and support to asylum seekers in Melbourne's west. We assist over 500 households of asylum seekers from over 30 different countries, providing them with good quality donated items such as furniture, bedding, clothing, children’s toys, appliances and kitchenware.
From beginning in 2013 after discovering some local asylum seekers had been living without beds or electricity in an empty apartment for six weeks, we quickly grew with enormous help from the local community. During the first year of operation WWW supported 913 asylum seekers (155 children & 758 adults), none of whom had the right to work, and all living on less than Centrelink’s minimum income while paying rent. In that first year of operation WWW delivered more than 500 beds, 920 bags of food, 200 children’s bundles and 100 bikes.
By the end of 2014, WWW had around 3,500 members and became an Incorporated Association and a registered Charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status for donations.
In 2016 we rented a warehouse which has been a huge help in storing and sorting all our donations, an currently have a team of over 200 volunteers servicing the western municipalities of Melbourne including Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Wyndham.
West Welcome Wagon is continuing to grow through the generous help of volunteers in the community, so find out how you can get involved too!
Testimonials
“I really touched by what the Australian people like you and family doing for us. This is exemplary of the generosity of a great community like West Welcome Wagon. Thank you so much and May God bless you. Have a lovely coming Holy Days!”
“Twenty five years ago in Iran I was born. Iran is such a beautiful country with very rich culture and history. People care about education and well being. But everything changes when it comes to our government. I don’t want to give you a headache by telling you what our people has passed through in last 35 years. But each Iranian who left the country had political or religious reason. So here I am. An Asylum seeker for almost 18 months. Being that hasn’t been easy. I stayed in a detention center, being called by just a number. My family and I have passed so many hard days. We left our home and family behind and started from nothing here. Thank you all for your wagons, for all the little things that you do for people like me. You are all in my heart whenever I open my fridge or ride my bike. I can feel your support when I open my pantry and decide what to cook for dinner. You are all so inspirational and awesome. You make these days much easier for us. I want to make sure you know we see your kindness and support and please be sure that kindness doesn’t lost, it just comes back to you and your life. You are all simply beautiful and perfect. I hope you all enjoy your holidays and have an amazing 2015.”