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AIBU?

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Original poster

'Aid' lorries going to Ukraine...

477 replies

Blurp · 02/03/2022 07:22

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.

OP posts:
Eve · 03/03/2022 21:03

Have you a link to the request not to donate - need to share it with an over enthusiastic collector.

Maiyakat · 03/03/2022 21:10

@Eve

Have you a link to the request not to donate - need to share it with an over enthusiastic collector.
www.gov.pl/web/unitedkingdom/humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine
MissTrip82 · 03/03/2022 21:14

I always give cash to organisations in a position to know what they need.

I find it odd when people are so cats bum mouth about 'admin costs'. Big organisations with a big reach are going to have admin costs. That's why you balance charitable donations between organisations with bigger costs and bigger reach (the poster above worrying about insulin.......it needs a strong supply chain to be useable when it gets there, that's a job for an experienced larger charity and it will have costs associated with it) and those with lower costs but less reach.

There's always a real mix of people donating to these types of aid drives and they're not always well-intentioned. There are people donating absolute rubbish and they never think it's them, they always think every thing they've given is 'perfectly useable'. Then there are the people who are patronising xenophobic gits who assume anyone who's not them will spend cash on unnecessary nonsense and can't be trusted to make good choices. There are well-intentioned people who want to do something but haven't really thought it through, and then there are well-intentioned people who don't have any cash spare at all so can't donate money and give what they have instead.

Nomoreusernames1244 · 03/03/2022 21:36

I find it odd when people are so cats bum mouth about 'admin costs'. Big organisations with a big reach are going to have admin costs

I agree with this when it’s generic charities raising money or “awareness”- certain cancer research charities for example that spend huge amounts on fundraising, tv ads and fun runs so people can cure cancer but pay the actual scientists poorly.

However in this case it’s sending supplies into a war zone. There is level of expertise needed- it’s not sending a few nurses to Bolton general to help people claim benefits. It’s sending supplies to war zones and the expertise, knowledge of things like supply chains, how to source those supplies etc can only be done by a few select organisations.

Barry and his van may not have “admin costs” but it’s highly unlikely he’ll be as efficient at distributing supplies to refugee camps and war zones. So that saving on “admin costs” is a false economy.

RozHuntleysStump · 03/03/2022 21:39

How much does it cost in fuel to drive to Poland? 💰💰💰💰

IdentifyingAsAPrincess · 03/03/2022 22:03

Lots of people don't want to fund those organisations because of the large number of predatory men who work for them as a way to access vulnerable women and girls. Looking at you Oxfam, Save the Children, Christian Aid, Red Cross.

Pigeonpocket · 03/03/2022 22:17

I've never understood the logic behind sending random stuff far away.
If we were at war in the UK, we wouldn't really need donations from countries on the other side of Europe. What would be the point of them buying stuff in their own country and driving it all over here?

It's lovely that people want to help but wanting to donate actual stuff without thinking about it properly does have an air of "I know what's best for these people" about it, which I don't think would happen if it was say, America or Norway in need.

inappropriateraspberry · 03/03/2022 22:40

I do t understand why people say they can't afford to give money to a charity? Give £1, £2. It will go a lot further than sending a tube of toothpaste or your old clothes.

inappropriateraspberry · 03/03/2022 22:55

Update on my man in a van - he dropped off supplies in Poland then went on to Lviv in Ukraine to help take people over the border.
Because a 16 seater minibus is more efficient than the coaches, trains and buses that have been organised with proper systems in place. 🙄

XenoBitch · 03/03/2022 22:57

@inappropriateraspberry

I do t understand why people say they can't afford to give money to a charity? Give £1, £2. It will go a lot further than sending a tube of toothpaste or your old clothes.
That £1 or £2 could be a meal for someone that is really struggling. Donating stuff they already have costs nothing.
inappropriateraspberry · 03/03/2022 23:02

@XenoBitch
But not many places (either here or at the final destination) will take second hand, as already discussed.
If they are struggling that much, they would be better off selling the items and keeping the money. If it's not good enough to sell, it's not good enough to donate. No one expects people to put themselves in dire straits to help others - that is futile.

elbea · 03/03/2022 23:16

@XenoBitch that may be the case, but those people don’t need to donate anything. The Polish government has clearly set out people turning up with random stuff is hindering them doing the critical work. It is causing problems because they have nowhere to store it, no man power to sort it and a lot of it is going to be ultimately thrown away at huge expense to the Polish Government.

Tigersonvaseline · 03/03/2022 23:54

I asked this earlier because my work And so many local place's are asking for donations.
But my DH was aghast and said give money!

After some basic research And asking on here I see it's much better.

We are giving to Dec And it's matched giving pilus gift aid.

Tigersonvaseline · 03/03/2022 23:55

Identifying

Yes sadly that was also one of my issues.

XenoBitch · 03/03/2022 23:56

[quote elbea]@XenoBitch that may be the case, but those people don’t need to donate anything. The Polish government has clearly set out people turning up with random stuff is hindering them doing the critical work. It is causing problems because they have nowhere to store it, no man power to sort it and a lot of it is going to be ultimately thrown away at huge expense to the Polish Government.[/quote]
Yep, I totally get that. I have seen the plea by the Polish government on here a few times now, but have yet to see it on FB. Am still seeing people asking for donation or help with transport. I hope the new message gets out soon.

VanGoghsDog · 03/03/2022 23:58

have yet to see it on FB.

How about you post it on FB? I have, several times now.

MysteryFog60 · 04/03/2022 03:34

The DEC have an appeal for Ukraine, the British Govt is matching any donations pound for pound up to £20 million. I usually donate to them rather than random appeals. Never had any doubts about DEC.

salsmum · 04/03/2022 04:35

When I enquired on our neighbourhood wattsapp group as to wether they'd need winter or summer clothes I was told winter as it's for those who are coming to the uk. 🤷‍♀️

Nat6999 · 04/03/2022 06:02

My MP is collecting donations, I sent ds to B & M with £30 & told him to buy things like baby wipes, toiletries, colouring books & crayons for the children.

Dinoteeth · 04/03/2022 07:40

Who's DEC?

Sirzy · 04/03/2022 07:53

@Dinoteeth

Who's DEC?
Disaster emergency committee.

They are well used to coordinating aid efforts between all the charities on the ground

meditrina · 04/03/2022 07:53

@Dinoteeth

Who's DEC?
www.dec.org.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj5ytvfyr9gIVAe3tCh3rSAKmEAAYASAAEgL3ufD_BwE

It's a co-ordinated charities appeal, and it has the government matching donations up to £20m

It stands for Disasters Emergency Committee and has been activated many times now.

EatSleepRantRepeat · 04/03/2022 10:00

Maybe see if there are any Ukrainians stranded in the UK local to you who need practical help. BBC news has 3 drivers stuck at Bardon Truck Park in Leicestershire who are being fed by the owners, as their Ukrainian debit and fuel cards have been frozen. They're not being allowed to leave the UK as they have no loads in their trailers. They likely have a cab to sleep in but I bet they'll start needing laundry services, mobile phone credit/burner sim cards etc soon.

shssandhr · 04/03/2022 11:07

Update on my man in a van - he dropped off supplies in Poland then went on to Lviv in Ukraine to help take people over the border.
Because a 16 seater minibus is more efficient than the coaches, trains and buses that have been organised with proper systems in place

And multiply this by people from neighbouring European countries doing the same. I live in one of them and our government has now put out a call to stop people driving with stuff (Poland is overwhelmed with it) and stop driving in cars to as close to the Ukrainian border and picking up refugees and bringing them back to this country, then accommodating them somewhere (usually with someone who has offered a room in a facebook group).
Ukrainian refugees can travel for free on the trains of neighbouring countries and there are buses etc being organized centrally.
I know people are just trying to help in an awful situation but now both things - the donations and picking up refugees - are hindering the centralized efforts.

Limer · 04/03/2022 11:56

There is a local " man with a van " who left yesterday with a van full of sleeping bags , blankets , hats , gloves , wash bags for male and female , water , biscuits , toys , books , colouring pencils and books for children

Having read through the whole thread I picked the above comment as a classic example of what not to do. How much is it costing to transport all this stuff hundreds of miles? Fuel, van wear & tear, ferry crossings, food/wages for the driver, etc. Who's paying for all of that? Wouldn't it be much more effective to donate that money straight to the charities already on the ground?

Many wise posters have already pointed out that it's money, not stuff, that's needed. Fundraise locally, sell your unwanted stuff, hold a jumble sale - lots of ways to quickly turn "stuff" and good intentions into cash!