Should I donate things or money?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

Our local Church has put out an appeal for clothes, blankets, hygiene products, blankets etc for the Earthquake victims. I don't have spares of these, but could buy them and donate, or could give the same amount of money to the DEC appeal.

My feeling is that the money would be best going to the DEC as they will know where it can best be used. On the other hand, I could go to the local Oxfam shop and buy warm clothes to donate so there is potentially a double benefit.

My memory of the Tsunami is that loads of people donated clothes which weren't really needed and ended up rotting, but this might be different.

Is anyone here involved in foreign aid and emergencies who could advise? Thanks

I've always read that money is the best thing to donate if you are able. DEC know what is needed most.

Money. Please.

This is from the DEC website saying what they can buy with funding.

How you can help

You can help people affected by the crisis by making a donation and helping to raise money for the DEC appeal. This will allow DEC charities and their local partners to scale up their response and reach more people.

£10 could provide blankets to keep two people warm
£25 could provide emergency food for a family for ten days
£50 could provide emergency shelter for two families

Always money. Apart from anything else, it takes time for physical items to reach the site of the emergency

Thanks.
If I had spare warm.clothes etc then I could donate those and the money, but I don't.
I'll make a donation to the DEC appeal.

Money is always better, as long as it is donated to a reputable organisation.

We will donate to DEC, and the money is matched by the Government.