Donation Efforts for disaster/tornado victims

[Tabatha]

I want to make sure this message gets out to as many as possible, so I knew that I could count on the DIS famliy to get the word out.

Here in Reading, KS we are overwhelmed with support and appreciate every bit, BUT...

http://www.wibw.com/blogs/topdawg/A_Caution_on_the_Desire_to_Help_122517649.html

 

[beaucoup]

Exactly, donating to disasters does not mean decluttering your house of unwanted items and expired food and shipping it off to another part of the country.

Send cash.

 

[NaLisa]

Exactly, donating to disasters does not mean decluttering your house of unwanted items and expired food and shipping it off to another part of the country.

Send cash.

Great post. My Girl Scout troop wanted to do something to help the Alabama tornado victims. We originally planned to send school supplies (new!) for students of a school that was destroyed. Then we looked into what it would cost to ship those supplies and realized that it would be better to send a check for what we would have spent on supplies plus postage. That way the school can buy exactly what they need.

It's wonderful that people want to help out victims of such disasters, but please do compound their problems by sending used, unusable, unneeded items. Cash will allow them to buy exactly what's needed, and the internet makes it easy to find reputable organizations that assist disaster victims.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I worked to the American Red Cross for 13 years and was on several very large disaster operations. The Red Cross, and most of the other disaster relief organization are much more set up for handling cash.

There is a secondary benefit. We would give people purchase orders for clothing, furniture, food, and other necessities that they could take to stores and exchange for the merchandise. We would then pay the stores their charges up to the amount on the order. Many of them would allow people to purchase more than the amount of the order, even though they knew we would not reimburse them the excess.

The real major effects were we got money into the community, and the people were able to select new clothing. Most people appreciate "assistance" but do not want "charity". This is a fine distinction. I speak from experience in the field.

 

[beaucoup]

You create a huge burden for the disaster areas when you send items. They have to find people to store them. And a building. People to sort them into usable & trash. Dispose of the trash. Set up areas for people to take the usable items. People with no homes have no place to put these items. And so forth.

Sending cash allows them to get what they need quicker, when they need it and when they are ready for it.