A post on FB saying collections for Ukraine are not actually helpful

[SmellyOldOwls]

I've been mulling over this one. Someone posted on Facebook the other day saying that loads of people are starting up collections for Ukraine and it's doing more harm than good. That people send a load of old crap and there's so many trucks that it causes chaos at the border and there aren't enough aid workers to sort it all out so loads of stuff that gets sent goes to waste. He said it's best just to send money instead.

I had a bag of stuff that I thought might be useful - lots of pairs of gloves new with tags, baby clothes new with tags. Unopened sealed baby formula. I'm not sure whether to drop it all off at a collection point now or not? Will i just forget it and donate money instead? But then you see on the news that it is helping people sending all this stuff so I don't know what to do.

If you donate via DEC , the uk government will match the donation.

I have no idea if this helped but after reading a post on LinkedIn I booked a private room on Airbnb for a couple of nights (obviously not going to stay there). The host messaged saying thank you so much, she has had a few similar bookings and has been able to help a friend as a consequence.

I hadn't seen the post, but I've seen lots from people getting collections of "stuff" together and it had crossed my mind that it might be more to help people here feel they've done "something" than it is actually helpful to those who need it. I can't imagine lorry loads of random things are particularly helpful and must take a huge effort to sort through at the other end.

The countries these things are going to don't, as far as I know, have shortages so why send these lorries when they can source what they need locally if they have the cash ?

The countries these things are going to don't, as far as I know, have shortages so why send these lorries when they can source what they need locally if they have the cash ?
Absolutely this. Sending clothing or other items that may not be needed risks creating a storage/waste disposal problem for authorities in Poland and other countries bordering Ukraine who already have quite enough issues to deal with. If you have clothing that you are willing to donate, far better to donate it to a UK charity shop so that it can be sold and raise cash.

You can book air B and B. They have dropped their fees in Ukraine. Money goes straight to host.

I’ve seen a few pleas to stop sending “stuff”

www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/03/ukraine-airbnbs-booked-in-effort-to-get-money-to-residents-pay-not-stay?fbclid=IwAR3DXNfvw7_SS0UofesPuDIpSKOI_xns__z17AIYLose7d2ELejuVxmNNGE

@HoliHormonalTigerlilly here you are

Student loan refund http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4476991-student-loan-refund

Thanks everyone for responding and for being nice about it

If you have things like baby clothes and formula, see if you have a baby bank near you. They give packages to families in the UK who can’t afford to buy things for their babies.

I struggled to buy nappies in the supermarket this week - the shelves were bare of everything except the super premium organic brands, then I saw that people were donating them to Ukraine and wondered if it was linked.

I did think this when I saw appeals for clothing etc that money would be more useful so donated to the Red Cross

I suspect it'll do more good if you drop the clothes off at the local Red Cross shop, as they'll be supporting the refugees. I understand the impulse but the fact is money is easier to handle and more flexible than clothes etc.

For similar reasons I've stopped putting tins in the foodbank bin at the supermarket, and now give to them monthly via direct debit.

The CEO of the DEC was on the news this morning. He said they don't have issues with 'things' they just need money. They need the right things and money can buy those.

Thanks for this thread, just donated to DEC.

As well as the point about the Government matching DEC donations up to £20 million, if you are a UK taxpayer you can tick the Gift Aid box when making a donation to charity so that the amount the charity receives is more than the amount that the donation cost you.

I had some stuff to donate, but after reading that money was preferable I donated to DEC instead. I will donate the bag of stuff to the local hospice shop instead.

Really useful thanks. Have donated to DEC but will also still donate the first aid supplies I have.

How much baby formula does £20 buy you in the UK? How much does £20 buy you in Ukraine or Poland?

I'll help you out, it costs £8-£9 in the UK and the equivalent of around £7 there. The western saviour of the 'poor Eastern countries' attitudes is out in force especially in the last week.

Clothes and day to day items are needed at the beginning before the local charities create channels to provide organised help on a massive scale. So there is a good reason to start with this and then to donate. You cannot seriously think that that 700k people who crossed over to Poland in one week would have survived were they to rely solely on items from local shops near the border which are a) small and b) prepared to cater for the usual number of local residents. The immediate help in kind is always required as long as the right items are donated, then financial help.

The border shops might not be that well stocked but there’s an awfully big country starting with a G a few hours drive away that is generally cheaper than the UK, has excellent supply chains and doesn’t require time consuming documentation to cross Dover Channel.

@PurplePansy05

How much baby formula does £20 buy you in the UK? How much does £20 buy you in Ukraine or Poland?

I'll help you out, it costs £8-£9 in the UK and the equivalent of around £7 there. The western saviour of the 'poor Eastern countries' attitudes is out in force especially in the last week.

Clothes and day to day items are needed at the beginning before the local charities create channels to provide organised help on a massive scale. So there is a good reason to start with this and then to donate. You cannot seriously think that that 700k people who crossed over to Poland in one week would have survived were they to rely solely on items from local shops near the border which are a) small and b) prepared to cater for the usual number of local residents. The immediate help in kind is always required as long as the right items are donated, then financial help.

Ok fine, the example I pulled off the top of my head about formula (because op mentioned it) is maybe not so different in price.

But the UK is a very expensive country. Poland is not. Ukraine is not. The countries who are taking in Ukrainians are organised and have logistics up and running at this stage to distribute people and goods. They don't need random vans of stuff driven in from the UK that has to be directed and dealt with now. Maybe in the first couple of days that was useful, but there have been multiple posters pointing out that charities etc are saying to stop sending stuff and start sending money.

£20 / £50 / £200 will go further there than it will here. Cost of living comparison attached. Stats easily found online. It's not a "western saviour" attitude. It's basic maths and common sense.

One of my best friends is an ex aid worker, and he always says donate cash. If you can't spare the cash but have 'stuff' give it to a charity shop which will sell it, which will be cash.

One of the CEOs of the DEC charities was on the radio today and she said 'Because of our set up, we can feed a family of four in Ukraine for a month for £40. However well intentioned a donation of £40 worth of UK shopping is, it isn't as effective at helping those who need it. Cash gives something to the local economy, and they will need it too.'

Someone on our local FB has posted that he's paid for 14 nights Airbnb to rent an apartment in Ukraine, having checked by contacting them that they are an individual not a company, and saying he's not actually going. Turns out this particular Airbnb is housing a family made homeless, so that's really helping.

Read article here: www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/03/ukraine-airbnbs-booked-in-effort-to-get-money-to-residents-pay-not-stay

@PurplePansy05

How much baby formula does £20 buy you in the UK? How much does £20 buy you in Ukraine or Poland?

I'll help you out, it costs £8-£9 in the UK and the equivalent of around £7 there. The western saviour of the 'poor Eastern countries' attitudes is out in force especially in the last week.

Clothes and day to day items are needed at the beginning before the local charities create channels to provide organised help on a massive scale. So there is a good reason to start with this and then to donate. You cannot seriously think that that 700k people who crossed over to Poland in one week would have survived were they to rely solely on items from local shops near the border which are a) small and b) prepared to cater for the usual number of local residents. The immediate help in kind is always required as long as the right items are donated, then financial help.

Obviously the small town shops near the borders can't cope with the sudden demand but aif agencies can source supplies more efficiently and probably cheaper, by sourcing them in those countries, rather than having a mish-mash of stuff shipped by amateurs in UK.

Even if the baby milk is only £1 different, that means £1000 in donations buys 142 cans rather than 125, multiplied several times over, that makes a difference.

I’d be wary now of doing the Air BnB thing now because you can bet your bottom dollar, scammers will cotton onto it and list fake properties in Ukraine. Sadly.

I agree that money is better for Ukraine. We have a local refugee organisation supporting refugees in our town which posts on FB when they need specific things , and they usually get them quickly - winter clothes, nappies, even laptops and furniture - so if you wanted to support with goods you could find out if you have similar.
refugeeactioncolchester.org.uk/

I'm not sure I believe all the FB heroes and their Air B n B thing at this end and of course there will be Bnbs set up that don't exist, by people not in Ukraine. Who's going to check?

If you want to make a donation make through official channels who know how to get the best value from it.

Take to a charity shop, many humanitarian agencies have them so you'll still be helping those in need.

I have a friend who works in the local Red Cross charity shop and asked her about this, she said in Red Cross shops you can donate items and specify the fund you want the proceeds of sale to go to. They mark it on the price tag and the tills are set up for them to record where the money is to go at the point of sale. It might be worth asking if other charity shops have this option if you don't have a red cross near you.