- Small, usable preloved items can be dropped at Robin Cargo Express, #03-75 Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Road, Singapore 238863, for shipping to communities in Manila.
- The drop-off is free for donors. The initiative was started by Colin Lau, and donated items fill spare space in cargo to Manila.
- Philippine Customs lets qualified Filipinos abroad send balikbayan boxes duty and tax free up to 3 times a calendar year, up to PHP 150,000 in total value.
- Balikbayan boxes must hold personal and household effects only, never commercial quantities or goods for sale.
- Philippine Customs lists cash, jewellery, toy guns, pirated DVDs, plant seeds and unsealed food as not allowed in balikbayan boxes.
Friends, look around your home.
There is probably a drawer you never open... and a bag of old clothes you have been "meaning to throw out" since Chinese New Year.
Clothes that still fit, toys the kids outgrew, a working fan you replaced with a newer one. In Singapore these go to the bulk waste collection. In a Manila community, they can be a Christmas gift. This guide shows you how to get them there.
Where can I donate preloved items to the Philippines in Singapore?
The best-known option is the free drop-off at Lucky Plaza, run with Robin Cargo Express, a balikbayan box shipping company.
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Detail | What we found |
|---|---|
| Address | Robin Cargo Express, #03-75 Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Road, Singapore 238863 |
| Opening hours | Open daily. Listings differ (11am to 5pm in our earlier article, 9am to 6pm on Recyclopedia.sg), so go in the afternoon or check first. |
| Who to ask for | Recyclopedia.sg says to look for Malou or Luz. |
| Cost to you | Free. Shipping is paid by Colin and his supporters. |
| Collection | Small items, brought in by you. No collection from homes or warehouses. |
Sources: Recyclopedia.sg, Giving & Taking Free Stuff and our earlier article, checked October 2026. Arrangements run on goodwill and can change.
Who started the Lucky Plaza donation drive?
- Colin Lau, a Singaporean who rescues good items other people throw away.
- Filipino domestic helpers wanted to send his finds home as Christmas gifts, but shipping to villages was costly. Linking up with Robin Cargo solved that.
- Mothership reported in 2020 that he had been doing this for about four years, with one giveaway of around 850kg of items.
- Recyclopedia.sg says domestic workers now run it, with money from Colin and his friends.
"Giving to anyone is still better than throwing away."
Colin Lau
Where do the donated items go?
What preloved items can I donate to the Philippines?
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Bring | Leave at home |
|---|---|
| Clothes in good condition (adults and kids) | Cash, cheques, money orders |
| Toys and children's items | Toy guns, gambling cards |
| Bedsheets, towels, thin blankets | Jewellery |
| Small household items and appliances | Pirated DVDs and CDs |
| Toiletries, stationery, books | Plant seeds and plants |
| Canned or sealed food | Food that is not canned, sealed or bottled |
"Leave at home" is from the Philippine Bureau of Customs balikbayan box FAQ, checked October 2026. Firearms, drugs and pornography are also banned. Keep everything small, clean and working.
What are the balikbayan box rules for my helper?
If your helper sends her own box home, these Philippine Customs rules apply.
Source: Bureau of Customs, Guidelines on Balikbayan Boxes (CAO 01-2018), checked October 2026. Her forwarder handles the paperwork, including an information sheet that acts as the packing list.
How do I check a charity or courier before giving?
- Philippine charity: ask if it is registered and licensed by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development). Philippine law requires social welfare agencies to hold a DSWD licence to operate.
- Singapore charity: look it up on the Charity Portal.
- Courier: pick a forwarder your helper's friends have used, with a real shop address and a written receipt for each box.
- Ask who receives the items and how they are handed out. Good groups answer this easily.
How can employers help their Filipino helper send items home?
Looking for a helper who fits your family?
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