After Greenhouse Backpackers marketing consultant Germaine Davey became concerned about the number of sleeping bags being left behind in the backpackers, she decided to turn it to advantage.

After reading a Facebook post by The Soup Bus stating about 400 people were believed to be homeless in Ballarat, Ms Davey decided to donate the bags to a good cause.

“As a large backpackers in the city of Melbourne, we welcome over 20,000 international visitors a year who bring with them high-tech and often expensive sleeping bags that they often discard at the end of their travels,” Ms Davey said.

“The Greenhouse staff started collecting discarded sleeping bags, called out for donations on our Facebook page and put posters around the hostel encouraging backpackers to donate their sleeping bags at the end of their stay.”

Ms Davey said Greenhouse recently partnered with Conservation Volunteers Australia to collect the bags and take them to The Soup Bus founder Craig Schepis.

Mr Schepis said the nights would soon start turning cooler and the sleeping bags were very welcome.

He said The Soup Bus would still welcome any blanket or sleeping bag donations and could be contacted on 5331 6111.