'Aid' lorries going to Ukraine...

[Blurp]

My Facebook timeline is suddenly full of requests from people who are filling lorries full of things to take to Ukraine - they're asking for donations of things like clothes, toiletries and food.

None of them seem to mention the name of a charity or any specifics - mostly it comes across as though some random bloke is just going to fill his lorry with stuff and drive it "to Ukraine".

At first I thought it was a great idea, but the more I read the more I'm questioning it. Not that I think the people doing it are dodgy or anything like that, more that I'm not sure how useful it would be.

Like, do they really need lorries turning up all over the place with random stuff inside? I've no doubt that much of the stuff would be useful, but how do they even start to sort through it and match it to people who need it? Where do they even go to drop it off - do they just pick a random road on the border and park there and give it out? I've seen a few people asking questions like this on the posts, but they tend to get ignored or shouted down.

As far as I'm aware, there are no issues with supply of goods to countries bordering Ukraine, so isn't it better to donate money to organisations already on the ground so that they can bulk buy what they need?

Again, I'm not knocking the people who organise these lorries or the people who donate to them; I'm just wondering how useful it really is.

@buddylicious are they the charity that used to do those CDs to raise money? I recognise the name I think. Good to get a personal recommendation.

We have this at our town too, couple of women offering to be a drop of point for goods which they will then take to another location for loading. They are local school mums, so I doubt that they are chancers or scammers and the collection originates from a local college but their FB plea has British Red Cross logo on it which I'm sure cant' be right? On BRC website they are clearly stating that they are only accepting money right now. God forbid you can't question any of this though!

Anyhow, I did have couple of bags of clearly labelled and weather appropriate clothing but decided not to take them based on reading this thread. I did take two spare sleeping bags which we happened to have and another bag of sanpro though. All bagged and clearly labelled. When I arrived at one of the garages, there was a mountain of bin bags as well as open tubs of toys. People mean well but they could spend a minute to think how these items will be transported perhaps.

I purposefully just stuck to the list for donations. It’s all useable, disposable stuff, batteries, sanitary products, bags, nappies, wipes, calpol, teething stuff, paracetamol etc.
I made sure it was just what was asked for.

I hope it’s useful and helps in some way. I can’t do much.

Surely there’s room for both? Mindful and considered giving in both money and goods.

@Blurp

To be clear: I'm not talking about lorries sent by organised charities who have people on the ground who know the area and know what's needed and how to distribute it. It's more the random "man with a van" ones that seem to have popped up, and who dodge any questions about the logistics.

Entirely sensible, and the twit accusing you of being negative needs to work on their reading comprehension.

Our local Catholic school run a Polish school on a Saturday. They have requested quite specific items which will be driven to the Ukrainian embassy in London and then join a military convoy to Ukraine.

The issue is the sheer volume I think. I've had messages from my yoga school, football club, local residents, and more all asking for the same items to be donated and all planning to deliver to London at the weekend as mentioned above. And that's just in one small area of a town. It's all going to be far too much. Luckily the football club have postponed now.

@Theanswerisinthequestion

Not everyone who wants to donate is comfortable with the biggest named charities and would prefer to send nappies /blankets directly. By the time my £20 went through the bigger charities administration it wouldn't be worth much.

Bigger charities like the Red Cross and unicef have lower admin costs. They have greater buying capacity and years of experience in logistics and setting up camps in areas of conflict.

Local to me they're now asking for people to donate to pay for a lorry for all of the stuff. It's THOUSANDS they need.

I'm not so sure they will be taking trucks of muddled up crap, my office resembles a warehouse right now, but this afternoon it was more of a jumble sale. People have been dropping off for two days (strictly stuff on a list), staff are still there sorting and separating there is nothing disorganised about it. I agree that they wouldn't have the man power to do the sorting the other end but how do you know the church/ school/ shop you donate to aren't sorting it overnight before it leaves the UK?

I'm not a twit @toconclude have a - my reading comprehension is fine.

I think the posts by @forinborin sum up what people are doing.

Here the one I know about is organised by a group of young Ukrainian men who are driving it out.
It's widely assumed that those men won't be returning quickly, but that they know where to take the aid inside Ukraine.

We’ve had a few posts today that say the Polish Government, unsurprisingly, have asked for donations to stop.

@elbea is that on Facebook? I can’t see anything in the news.

@Trixiefirecracker

‘We call on everyone wishing to help not to organise further collections of in-kind donations, as their transport to Poland – followed by a lengthy unloading, storage, selection and distribution procedure – generates disproportionate amounts of additional work and cost, which proves ineffective and counterproductive to the needs of those affected.’

www.gov.pl/web/unitedkingdom/humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine

I was going to go to home bargains and buy a load of stuff to donate.
I decided not to and donated to the Red Cross instead. Goods like baby milk and medication will be in English, which isn’t ideal. Sending random medications is a bit risky as well.
To think the whole of the uk are sending second hand clothes and toiletries l, nappies etc all the same stuff…and that goes for pretty much the whole of Europe, it’s going to be an insane amount of stuff for people to sort through which will take up so much time and also clog up buildings and roads.
There are people in our country that need this stuff too due to house fires, homeless etc.
The proper charities can buy local, exactly what is needed and cater to individual families and also help with housing. It’s much better to donate money.

They need tourniquets and stuff I don't know where to buy them so I gave money to the charities that hopefully do

Hoping someone can answer this.

I will give a cash donation now, but if I am to donate goods, is it better to do this when refugees arrive in the UK? When I donated for Afghan refugees arriving here it felt the stuff given would be used and maybe not abandoned due to logistics (not saying that happens, but it was a concern).

Which is the best charity to give to? I have been put off by stories in the past about charities wasting cash donations. I know they aren't all the same, but I don't know much about them to make a good decision.

This thread has thrown me a bit to be honest. Not sure what is the best way to help.

DEC have an appeal in place now, and the Government will match donations, so I'd say that would be a good way to go.

@SuitcaseOfWhine the link I posted above has a picture of the best placed charities to help as specified by the polish government. It’s not a very clear picture but you can just about see the names

The Polish centre is organising collections here, and I have asked questions and it does seem to be organised really well, going to direct contacts 'on the ground' in Poland.

The local school is also involved. I think it's really important for children (and lots of adults too I suppose) to do something concrete. Whether or not a donation to a large established charity would be better (I've no idea, guess there's an argument that smaller local collections can move faster?), there is something to be gained for children here having conversations about the crisis and giving them some power to 'do something'.

The local school is also involved. I think it's really important for children (and lots of adults too I suppose) to do something concrete. Whether or not a donation to a large established charity would be better (I've no idea, guess there's an argument that smaller local collections can move faster?), there is something to be gained for children here having conversations about the crisis and giving them some power to 'do something'

So surely if people must “do something” they can go old school and hold jumble sales, car boots in the school playground, and sell off all these donations. Then the money can go where it’s needed.

@Nomoreusernames1244

The local school is also involved. I think it's really important for children (and lots of adults too I suppose) to do something concrete. Whether or not a donation to a large established charity would be better (I've no idea, guess there's an argument that smaller local collections can move faster?), there is something to be gained for children here having conversations about the crisis and giving them some power to 'do something'

So surely if people must “do something” they can go old school and hold jumble sales, car boots in the school playground, and sell off all these donations. Then the money can go where it’s needed.

Like the Blue Peter appeals! That's not easy at the moment, though. Our school hasn't held any whole school/community activities for 2 years now. Despite the end of official regulations, schools are still being careful.

Also, I think there is something much more concrete in packing items up that someone will receive rather than abstract cash. Infant children don't really get the concept of cash. This morning a little girl sent her teddy in. Probably not as helpful as a £10 donation to Red Cross, but what a lesson in sharing.

Well yes a nice lesson in sharing but why should lessons for children here be more important than useful help that doesn't create more issues than it solves. Not everything is about us!

Absolutely. People sooo much keener to donate “stuff” than cash. It’s money they need to the right organisations.

@Nomoreusernames1244

The local school is also involved. I think it's really important for children (and lots of adults too I suppose) to do something concrete. Whether or not a donation to a large established charity would be better (I've no idea, guess there's an argument that smaller local collections can move faster?), there is something to be gained for children here having conversations about the crisis and giving them some power to 'do something'

So surely if people must “do something” they can go old school and hold jumble sales, car boots in the school playground, and sell off all these donations. Then the money can go where it’s needed.

I fear this situation is bringing out a perfect combination of performative Marie Kondoing/ Be Kind

Buying a bun from the school bake sale doesn't clear your trash ;(