History
300 Blankets was founded on the principles of compassion, respect, and care for all people in our community.
In 2012, volunteers Warren Tu and Kim Nguyen, working with the St Vincent de Paul Society Soup Vans, noticed a constant shortage of blankets on their nightly rounds through Melbourne. After food and water, blankets were the most requested item—yet there were never enough. Wanting to make a difference, they set out to raise funds for 300 blankets—enough to meet the number of people the soup van would encounter in one night.
Since then, 300 Blankets has grown into a volunteer-led organisation delivering consistent, community-based programs to people across Victoria experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Alongside material aid, we now address broader challenges including food insecurity and social isolation.
Outreach program
Launched in 2015, the Outreach Program provides people sleeping rough in Melbourne’s CBD with material aid, referrals to support services, and meaningful social connection.
Soul Kitchen program
In 2018, in response to a lack of services outside the CBD, we partnered with Bridge Church and Maribyrnong City Council to open Soul Kitchen in Braybrook. Held weekly at the Braybrook Community Hub, it offers a free, nourishing meal in a welcoming space where individuals and families can connect and build relationships.
Care Package program (2020-2024)
During Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdowns, we partnered with Melbourne Ice to launch the Care Package program, which – over the course of its program lifetime – delivered 6,370 food and essentials packs to individuals and families experiencing hardship. The program ended in 2024, allowing us to focus resources on our core services where we can have the greatest long-term impact.
Today, all of our programs are delivered by a passionate team of unpaid volunteers. We remain committed to challenging the stigma of homelessness and working with communities, institutions, and partners across Victoria to support people doing it tough.
How you can help
As a 100% volunteer charity, 300 Blankets is funded through a range of grants and the generous financial support of donors – both large and small – that allows us to continue to provide critical services to those in our community who are currently experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. Every donation made to 300 Blankets, no matter how small, goes a long way in helping those who need it the most.