How not to donate after a crisis
Often in the news, you will read an article about a disaster or crisis that has hit the country, and when you read or see this, the first impulse is to donate goods, clothes or even food.
Unfortunately, when it comes to emergency responses or crisis response team, these are not always the most effective or helpful items to donate.
These types of donations can often become strenuous for the response teams to deal with as they can become backlogged and are difficult to manage.
If you would like to donate to a crisis response charity, do some research on what they need the most. For many of these charities, monetary donations are the most important as they can help with the more immediate threats and issues. You do not have to make an exorbitant donation, but it is worthwhile to donate an amount that can be put towards whatever the emergency response team needs, such as medicines and supplies. Keep reading for some top tips on how not to donate to a charity after a crisis.
Canned goods and foods are not top priority
You might think that people who have lost their homes, and everything in them, would appreciate receiving some canned goods to make themselves a hot meal in the shelter or emergency safe-house they are in. And while these donations are not turned away, at times of crisis they can become unmanageable and unusable as time goes by.
This is because these items might not be sent out at the start of the crisis, meaning they could be sitting in storage for months on end. This could be detrimental to any goods that are expiring soon, which would be quite a waste for the charity. If you would like to donate canned goods and non-perishable foods, it is best to wait for a later date or phone the organisation and ask if and when they would like these to be donated.
Gently used clothes can become redundant
Second-hand or gently used clothes can be highly useful for those who are going through a difficult time, especially children who are in shelters for HIV/AIDs orphans, but after a time bundles of clothing can become unmanageable and are often overflowing in the storage sheds of charities. That’s why it’s suggested to contact charities before you donate, as this helps dictate the need for clothing in this crisis, or not..
Sometimes it is a better idea to take your unused or unwanted clothing to a charity shop or the charity shop of the organisation you would like to help. This way they can sell the clothing to the public and use the money for their emergency efforts. Be sure that whatever you donate has been washed properly beforehand and that you have fixed all of the holes and tears.
Toiletries are a touchy subject
Sometimes you might think that donating toothpaste, toothbrushes and other toiletries could be useful but this can potentially be a touchy subject for some charities. For example, some might not feel comfortable accepting hygiene products as some people might have sensitive skin and their own personal tastes. It can also be highly difficult to package and send these out in time for them to make a difference to the crisis.
Be sure to ask your chosen charity if they are accepting this type of donation before you go ahead and buy some (well-intentioned) toiletries. Some charities will accept this kind of donation, for example children’s homes and homes for abused men and women, as these people are highly vulnerable and will appreciate these items. However, a crisis response charity will likely not give these donations priority over monetary options.
Don’t remain uneducated
Your first impulse might be to donate whatever you can in order to help a charity, but this is not always the right response. You should do research on the charity and who they help, as well as what the crisis is that they are trying to alleviate. This will help you to donate the right way at the right time, rather than simply sending off packages of unsuitable goods.
Doing research will help you to become more aware of the issues in the world and will enlighten you on what the charities are looking for in terms of donations. For example, a local charity might be more suited to clothing, food, and toiletries donations whereas a national disaster relief organisation would likely prefer monetary donations. This way you can make an actual impact on the crisis.
Give with intent
The best way to ensure that your donation makes an impact on your chosen charity is to give with intent rather than simply giving after watching the news. For example, canned goods and foods might seem like a good idea for a crisis in a far away country, but are much better suited to a local homeless shelter.
Gently used clothes can be sold for hospice or at your local SPCA rather than being sent overseas to natural disaster victims, and remember – toiletries are best given to charities supporting the daily care of children,men, and women. Monetary donations are always preferable but every little bit can help in some small way.