Community creating Care Kits for Queensland children in need in care or crisis.
Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc.
Around 13,500 Queensland children are living in
out-of-home care.
Many more are in crisis situations.
They often must leave unsafe situations with nothing but what they are wearing.
Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc. is a not-for-profit ACNC registered volunteer-run charity with DGR status distributing free Care Kits backpacks to Qld children in need without access to the essentials and comforts most take for granted.
Imagine being a child going to school with no access to a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, sanitary items, hair brush or comb.
Only 1 set of undies (or none), or no clothes that fit.
No warm clothes in winter.
No toys or comfort items.
Escaping neglect, abuse, or domestic violence.
Or living in extreme poverty facing homelessness.
These are common stories for thousands of Qld children- babies to teens, ages 0 to 17.
Our Care Kits – backpacks filled with age appropriate new or handcrafted clothing, toiletries, stationery, activities, toys, books & a quilt/wrap are distributed via direct assessment / assistance services such as:
Qld Child Safety,
Qld Police Child Protection,
Foster & Kinship Care &
Domestic Violence services,
hospitals & schools.
Care Kits show these children in emergency, kin or foster care, DFV crisis, extreme poverty or homelessness,
that they matter and their community cares.
Since 2018, Care Kits for Kids Qld has provided Care Kits for nearly 21,000 Qld children in care or crisis.
We have capacity to provide Care Kits for up to 5,000 children per year, dependent on grants and in-kind or financial donations.
In-Kind Donations for these children
can be left at any of our
DONATION POINTS.
CURRENT URGENT NEEDS
Please bring donated items to our sheds at 147 Samuel St between 8 – 2pm on Mondays, Thursdays, or 8 -1pm on the 1st Sat/month,
or to Donation Points, or post to:
Care Kits for Kids Qld
Parcel Locker 81
MANSFIELD QLD 4122
LARGE BACKPACKS Youth/Adult eg 46 x 33 x 18cm; 25L+ (eg $15+ ea at Kmart) or larger sizes, with bigger capacity. BABY ONESIES esp summer onesies: Girls sizes 000, 00, 0 and boys size 0. FACE WASHERS ZIPS 35cm for pencil cases
TOOTHPASTE for MILK TEETH / toddlers / young children NAPPIES SIZES 1 & 2 ONLY PYJAMAS summer sizes 6 to 18 T-SHIRTS esp sizes 8 to 18LEGGINGS all sizes 2-18 TRACKSUIT tops / HOODIES: ONLY girls 8-16; boys 14, 16.
NO OTHER WINTER clothing or knitted / crochet items needed till March 2027. HIGH BOUNCE HAND BALLS 6cm rubber SMALL 90-100ml SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONERS
SOAP COMBS
2-HOLE PENCIL SHARPENERS 35CM PENCIL CASES 30CM RULERS ERASERS, LEAD PENCILS; COLOURED PENCILS GIFT WRAPPING PAPER – (NOT Christmas or birthday), RAFFIA & RIBBON PLAYING CARD GAMES / TRAVEL SIZE GAMES / TEEN games/toysACTIVITY BOOKS: Join the Dots, Mazes, Word Search for older kids STICKERS for all age groups DRILL FABRIC 2m+ lengths, patterned and plain. (note- we have plenty of plain black , brown & grey so other colours please!)
UPCOMING EVENTS / NEWS:
Care Kits SHEDS: OPENING TIMES.
8-2pm on Mondays & Thursdays, or
8-1pm on the 1st Sat/month.
OPEN Mon 5th Oct (King’s Birthday)
30th Nov Sheds open from 8 till 11.30am only. (Volunteer Christmas Lunch at 12pm).
17/12 Last Day of Care Kits sheds open
18/12/26 – 17/1/27 CLOSED. Email will be monitored.
18/1/27 OPEN: WELCOME BACK!
Care Kit requests: submit order form before 4 Dec for packing before 17/12 if stock is available.
Order forms can be submitted any time.
Orders that can’t be packed/collected by 17/12/26 will be packed from 18/1/27.
10 October: Burning Bridges Podcast ‘OFF THE MIC’ Men’s Event. Partners welcome.
5-9pm. NOW at NARANGBA Community Hall.
Hangi dinner & entertainment included.
5 powerful guest speakers.
Real men, Real stories, Real conversations.
A focus on Men’s Mental Health.
Profits to Care Kits for Kids Qld.
CKKQ – what we do video:
https://youtu.be/iuSxOHJZh-c
BOOK tickets at events.humanitix.com/off-the-mic
25 Oct, 10am-2pm Wellington Manor Retirement Village
🐘 Great White Elephant Sale 🐘
Where? 269 Birkdale Rd Birkdale
31 Oct : 6pm Family Trivia Night fundraiser for Care Kits by Quota Carindale $15pp; Tables of 8. RSVP 24 Oct.
Sun 1 November Mini Owners Club Qld (MOCQ) car rally ending at the Care Kits for Kids Sheds 9.30am arrival.
If you’re a volunteer or love Mini cars, you’re welcome!
Mon 30 November – Save the Date Volunteer Christmas Lunch at Easts Leagues Club.
RECENT EVENTS 2026:
7-11 September was AUSTRALIA’S LONGEST POKER RUN charity fundraiser through
Central Queensland! Huge thanks to the Southern Cross Association for epic organisation, and to all the riders, supporters and donors who together had an amazing time, AND made a huge difference supporting Care Kits for Kids Qld provide Care Kits for Qld children in need.
🎁 5/9/26 We wrapped it up for Father’s Day!
Thank you to all who donated for gift-wrapping at MYER Garden City/Mt Gravatt
🎒 Your gift-wrapping donation will go directly towards providing Care Kits for disadvantaged Qld children in need!
🎁 Huge thanks to the volunteers who were able to step up: Stephanie H, Anja K, Sophia B, Amelie S, Isabella C, Evelyn S, Robyn T, Mya R, Nicole K, Lorraine O, Robyn W & Sue F.
3/9/26 Women in Insurance: Thank you very much for your amazing support for Care Kits for Kids Qld in 2026.
19/8/2026 Official Opening Shed Upgrade.
Again, many thanks to all of the amazing businesses, organisations and people who donated financially to make our upgrade possible! Thank you for attending and seeing the results of your generosity in person!
There is an open invitation to those who could not attend to visit any Monday, Thursday or first Saturday of the month.
26/6/26 Handover!
Our Building Upgrade IS COMPLETE!!! 
A HUGE THANK YOUto the organisations below for significant grants, and to many more businesses , organisations and people for the remainder of the financial support that completed the funding. 
Our 180 volunteers and supporters who visit and donate on site now have an all-abilities-accessible community facility with 4 toilets under the one roof, and capacity for our volunteers to safely and efficiently provide requests for up to 5,000 Care Kits per year.
Our new sewing room houses around 20 machines and more.
Our crafters, sorters and packers have more space.
People with mobility aids can now volunteer or visit with the increase in safe space and amenities.
It’s been a phenomenal achievement by our volunteers, supporters and all involved in planning, funding and building this essential facility upgrade.
We are so grateful to our supporting community and welcome all of our volunteers back to our new spaces.
Grants & Funding:
Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Community Facility,Gambling Community Benefit Fund Queensland, Easts Leagues Club and Civic Solutions Numerous fundraising events and donations from businesses, including Fulton Hogan, Women In Insurance, Knowledge Bank and many more organisations and individuals.
Scott Peabody, Arqus Architects team
Mitchell Brandtman, Quantity Surveyors
HYTEK Steel Framing – Light weight steel framing & structural steel
CU Group – Partial floor vinyl and front entry light
Unica – Tile supply to bathrooms
Furniture donations:
Mark and Allied(large donation preloved office furniture)
Jayne W (huge cutting table)
MINE Home(large table)
28/6/26 Thank you to all who attended BINGO BEATS at the Easts Leagues Club – fundraiser for Care Kits for Kids Qld.
The Eagles and American music.
13/6/2026: Sewing Destash Market: Pattern Destash Stall Fundraiser
We had a fabulous day out fundraising through our Patterns for Charity stall at the exciting Sewing Destash Market Qld last Saturday, with a record result. 
19/5/26 Thank you very much to the Catholic Women’s League at Holy Cross Church, Kippa Ring, for inviting guest speaker Stephanie, the generous financial donation, and the car-load of gorgeous handcrafted blankets and other items for our Care Kits going out in the next few weeks to Qld children in need. 17/5/26 Thank you very much for our invitation to attend Quota Wynnum and receive support with a very generous financial donation.
May: Mother’s Day Gift-Wrapping Kiosk.
Huge thanks to Westfield Carindale, our amazing gift-wrapping volunteers and generous customers for all the support at our Mother’s Day Gift-Wrap kiosk fundraising opportunity.
We are very thankful for incredible support from all.
Thank you very much to volunteers Stephanie H, Tomo I, Anja K, Beverley Y, Sally, Patsy K, Judy N, Robyn T, Maria D, Rosemary L, Noelene M, Lois R, Linda S, Corrine K, Sameeta, Josie P, Christina P CMC, Annette CMC, Maria CMC, Abby CMC, Scarlett CMC, Michaela CMC, Mandy & Emma, Sophia B, Cathy H, Julie F, Mya R (White Lady), Susan S, Robyn T, Rabeeha, Amelie S, Sasha R, Judy N, Denise E, Heather S, Anna-Marie, Bella B, and Sean G.
Thank you for the amazing generosity of one customer who came back and donated $500, others who donated $100 & $50, the customer who bought our volunteers chocolates, as well as Sally who brought over some further supplies from the Aveo Parkside Carindale community.
We really enjoyed connecting with so many wonderful people over our 8 days of giftwrapping.
5/5/26 Thank you very much to residents at Parkside Carindale for inviting our guest speaker Stephanie, generous financial donations and organising a popup Donation Point on site!
1pm 27/4/26 Annual General Meeting: Welcome to our incoming Committee!
4/4/26 Thank you very much to residents at Elements Retirement Living Village at Carindale for inviting our guest speaker Stephanie and generously contributing a financial donation raised at their Easter Morning Tea. Furthermore, a pyjama drive was held with over 50 new pyjama sets donated!
28/3/26 Thank you very much for inviting our guest speaker Stephanie to a Knowledge Bank Seminar organised by Paul Shih. An amazingly generous donation was raised – many thanks to:
Paul Shih (Knowledge Bank)
Grill Ippin Don restaurant
Vicky Zhu, Director of WealBest Property,
Mr George Sha, Director of BALANZ,
Specsavers Audiology Morayfield & Bribie,
Golda Wine, &
Mine Home (raffle prize)
11/3/2026 Thank you very much to Rotary Club Ashgrove /The Gap for inviting us to a Volunteer Thank you night – and presenting Care Kits for Kids Qld with a very generous financial donation!
1st to 28/2/2026 Huge thanks to Myer Mt Gravatt for their FEBRUARY GIVING MONTH giving customers the opportunity to round up their purchase with a donation for Care Kits for Kids Qld.
Who do we help?
Any Queensland child
aged 0 to 17
who is assessed as in need, in out-of-home care or in crisis.
Our free age/size specific Care Kits contain 2 days’ supply of:
new clothing sets, including pjs, undies and socks,
toiletries,
activity / stationery supplies,
book,
toy &
quilt / warm wrap.
Donations for these children
can be left at any of our
DONATION POINTS
Who can request Care Kits?
Assistance Services can request Care Kits
Our Care Kits can be requested by sizes needed
at no cost,
at point of need,
by any Queensland organisation who
directly assesses and assists children in need:
Qld Police Child Protection units,
Qld Child Safety services,
Domestic Family Violence services
Foster and Kinship Care services,
Indigenous assistance services
& School Programmes & Hospitals assisting children in need
ALL REQUESTS MUST GO THROUGH THESE SERVICES.
Where can Care Kits be sent?
Care Kits can be sent to any region in Queensland – with huge thanks to our current amazing, caring trucking partners for making this possible.
Their generous contributions make a real difference, impacting hundreds of young lives.
Thank you so much to our current heroes: Centurion, Followmont, Richers, Wards & MNM transport companies.
Impact Stories
💕A 16-year-old boy put our little handmade stuffed fabric heart into his pocket to remind himself people cared, encouraging him to care what he made of his life, rather than give up. He turned his life around and gained an apprenticeship!
💕A traumatised young girl refused to undergo a shower and nits removal… until she realised our Care Kit had lovely new clothes AND fancy hair bows and hairclips just waiting for her to put them all (!) into lovely clean hair.
💕One 12 year old boy became very excited upon seeing the new pyjamas in his Care Kit. They happened to be exactly the same as the ones he had to leave behind!
Two emergency and short-term foster carers once had a child arrive with no underpants, needing an emergency night trip to the shops.
The next time, children arrived with their new Care Kits and had everything needed to be comfortable for the next 2 days. These carers then helped support Care Kits for Kids Qld through Containers for Change / donations so more children in crisis can benefit.
💕One young child didn’t know how to use a toothbrush. He had never owned one before, let alone a brand new one just for himself!
💕One year 9 student leader chose to support Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc through a donation drive for Year 7s at his high school for a Duke of Edinburgh award. The entire school community helped him achieve his goal.
💕One young girl mobilised her whole Grade 3 class to donate education items for Care Kits for Kits Qld.
💕One teenage girl used all her birthday money to put together a complete Care Kit for a teen girl doing it tough.
💕 A guest speaker at our thank you function for donors began with "I was one of those kids. I know what a huge difference it makes for a child to be given a Care Kit"
💕A mother who had once escaped domestic violence with her children (and virtually nothing else), organised a huge donation for us at her large workplace as she knew how much of a practical difference, hope and comfort a comprehensive Care Kit can provide.
💕A young girl couldn't believe her Care Kit was hers to keep. She went to bed that night in her new pyjamas clutching her new teddy and her new toothbrush! ...She had never owned a toothbrush before.
The plight of children in crisis or care is heartrending:
Around 12,000 Queensland children aged 0 to 17 are living away from home.
58% of children in out-of-home care were Indigenous,
mostly placed with kin, other Indigenous carers or Indigenous residential services (2021).
ICE drug use impacting the safety of children is significant.
More than 40% of children who came into the care of the department
during the 12 months to June 2021 had a parent with current or previous methamphetamine use.
4,332 children were in need of protection from domestic violence as the child
did not have a parent able and willing to protect them from harm.
Another 2,441 children had one parent trying to protect them from family & domestic violence (FDV)
60% of sexual assault victims (3,435 victims) were under 18 years of age at the date of incident.
31% were FDV assaults. (ABS, 2021)
1 in 4 Australian children now experience sexual abuse.
(Luke Twyford QFCC Chief Executive and Principal Commissioner, 2026)
75% of households had multiple risk factors impacting safety of their children:
drug/alcohol abuse (63%), mental illness (54%), recent domestic and family violence (49%).
Queensland child safety inquiry
Sources: CYJMA 2020, 2021; ABS 2021
Handmade hearts
are placed in each Care Kit,
as unique as each child who receives them.
They are a pocket sized hug
from our community –
a message that each child matters,
and their community cares.
💕Thank you for caring💕
