Spring is here in Australia, and that means warmer weather, longer days and the perfect opportunity to give your wardrobe a refresh.
If you've been holding onto clothes you no longer wear, now is a great time to clear some space and give those items a second life. Even better, you can do it while supporting a good cause, without leaving home!
Uber and the Australian Red Cross are teaming up again for their annual Clothing Drive, offering free clothing donation pickups across six Australian cities.
What's the Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive?
On Saturday 17 October 2026, Uber and the Australian Red Cross will make it easier to donate your unwanted clothes.
Between 10 am and 4 pm local time, people in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney can book a free Uber Courier pickup through the Uber or Uber Eats app.
Your donations will be collected from your doorstep and delivered to Australian Red Cross shops, where they can be sold to help fund important humanitarian programs.
The initiative is now in its eighth year. In 2025, Australians donated an estimated 125,000 kilograms of clothing in just one day, showing how much of a difference a simple wardrobe clean-out can make.
How to get involved
If you're an international student living in one of the participating cities, this is an easy way to declutter your room, especially if you don't have a car to transport donations.
Start by going through your wardrobe and setting aside clothes you haven't worn in a while. Think about those jackets that no longer fit, outfits that aren't your style anymore or accessories that someone else could enjoy.
The Australian Red Cross is looking for clean, good-quality clothing and accessories that can be resold in its shops. Avoid donating dirty, damaged or heavily worn items.
Once you've gathered your donations, pack them securely into a bag or box ready for collection.
How to book your free pickup
On 17 October, follow these steps:
- Open the Uber or Uber Eats app.
- Find and select the Red Cross Clothing Drive banner.
- Read the instructions and tap 'Book now'.
- Check that 'Red Cross Clothing Drive' is selected as your destination.
- Make sure your Courier trip shows a $0 charge before confirming.
If you can't find the banner, open the Courier section in the Uber app and search for 'Red Cross Shop'.
Your donation package must weigh no more than 20kg and fit comfortably in the boot of a medium-sized car.
What clothes can you donate?
Not everything in your wardrobe is suitable for donation, so it's important to choose carefully.
The Australian Red Cross is particularly looking for women's jackets, knitwear and tops this year. Other good-quality clothing and accessories are also welcome.
A useful rule is to ask yourself whether you'd happily give the item to a friend. If it's clean, wearable and in good condition, it's probably suitable.
However, the Clothing Drive won't accept underwear, homewares or clothes that are dirty or worn out.
Even Sporty Spice is getting involved!
This year's Clothing Drive has a familiar face: Melanie C, also known as Sporty Spice from the Spice Girls.
She's donating three memorable outfits from her personal collection, including a tracksuit, a sequin suit and a little black Gucci dress.
A small clean-out can make a big difference
Donating your clothes isn't just about making more space in your wardrobe.
When your pre-loved items are sold through Australian Red Cross shops, the proceeds help fund humanitarian programs supporting people experiencing hardship and communities affected by emergencies.
It's also a great opportunity to rethink how you shop, make the most of what you already own and give unwanted items another purpose.
So, whether you're preparing for the warmer months, moving into new student accommodation or simply running out of wardrobe space, put Saturday 17 October in your calendar.
For more information, visit Uber's official Clothing Drive announcement.
