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.

We’re in Germany and aid groups with Ukrainian links have been specifying what they need: mostly sleeping bags, bedding, warm clothing and hygiene supplies. It’s just so they can give refugees the absolute essentials at the start. Cash donations are always useful and will be more so as time goes on.

I imagine problems arise when people have a clear out without thinking of what is really useful or ignore what the aid agencies have said they need.

@PurpleParrotfish

It was said upthread but just to say again that the government are match funding donations to DEC so that would be an effective way to give.

I've only just discovered this. How is this not more widely known?!

I donated to the Red Cross for the reasons others have stated. They are already there and can source goods locally, or at least within mainland Europe.

Anyone know any more about the queens generous donation?

How much or where these funds will go?

I've only just discovered this. How is this not more widely known?!

It was only launched yesterday

Money.

I'm not sure if all the goods donated can cross over to Europe. UK is a third country now and forms need to be filled. Brexit Bonus. Currently, there are 13 vans stuck in the border

twitter.com/vanmaneuro/status/1499057721039073285?s=20&t=wp4yOH0Ud2CKJqwuvC71hQ

I'm not sure if all the goods donated can cross over to Europe.

It's really simple. If you donate goods make sure the organisers give you details of the customs declaration to attach or enquire if they do it themselves afterwards so they can enter the EU without undue delay.

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.

This is why you don't do a house clearout, chuck all in a box and donate to a group of volunteers that does that - sends random stuff in random boxes. Read what's needed, segreagate, attach the papers, donate to a collection point. Or read up in detail as for example Poles in the UK have a very organised system whereby the goods are sorted here before being sent to the border, since in a number of cities across the UK there are facilities areanged directly by the Polish charities. You just need to do your homework about what's happening that is local to you.

£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

The average cost of a Christmas food basket in 2021 was £161 - whilst every penny counts, consider that when donating as your £20 really doesn't go as far as you might be thinking. Put it this way, you might have your google research, thanks for sharing. Some of us know in practice. The rest of your posts repeats what I've already said earlier.

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.

If people wish to help Ukrainian refugees, that's what they should do. It's not a competition which cause is more important, one is urgent, one is an ongoing problem. A completely different category of causes. UK baby banks are also very specific as to what exactly they accept and when so this is not true you can just donate what you have at any given time. And sorry you couldn't find your nappies, maybe it's ongoing post-Brexit or post-pandemic supply change issues, you know. Might not be that the victims of war now have your nappies.

And finally, the UK government is match funding up to £20m in donations, be aware of that.