To not understand why people are driving to Poland?

[Tgbiyr]

Genuinely interested in whether I’m missing something.

I have a friend on Facebook who’s driving part of a convoy of goods for Ukrainian refugees from the UK to Poland. Toiletries, clothes etc. He asked people to donate goods, and now he’s asking people to donate towards fuel costs.

I cannot understand why anyone is doing this. Would it not be better to donate to the Polish charities supporting the refugees than transport lorries full of goods thousands of miles? Or ask for donations of goods to support refugees who come to Britain? What am I missing?

AIBU to think that driving lorries from the UK to Poland isn’t helpful, and the money would be better spent being directly donated to organisations in Poland?

We’re in southern Germany. We have Ukrainian communities organizing convoys of stuff.
Whilst I believe people do choose the more interesting ways- this stuff is needed.

Trains and transport go to a specific locations. Have you ever been to a huge gig, where 70,000 people try and leave at once an it takes ages? That’s the amount of refugees arriving every day - or have been. Over 3 million people have left Ukraine. There isn’t enough stuff or logistics from the local amenities to provide for that many people. You can’t shop for that many. I don’t think our minds can comprehend that there are so many people, they queue for 8hours at the border. (And that was a grandma of one of the kindergarten kids)

My colleague is in Berlin, her sister and nieces have arrived with only clothes on their back. There are people online asking for clothes for people they have put up.

When you get that many people in one place money sometimes isn’t useful.

@Pinklemonade1

Wow, so many negative, horrible comments on here.. Some people have worked really hard at collection points and the drivers themselves..this isnd for kudos, it's a genuine need that they want to help in a practical way rather than just sitting back and sending some money over. Some people can't afford to 'just donate'. If you have items that are no longer required, such as clothes that your children have grown out of, surely it's better to donate rather than it going to landfill. Such sanctimonious comments. Painful to read .

Unfortunately the evidence from disaster after disaster over many years is that a lot of the stuff will end up in landfill if its not co-ordinated and targeted properly. If it doesn't it's because of the hours spent unnecessarily by people in the crisis zones and resources spent on warehouse space.

Someone on my local Facebook posted asking if anyone was talking stuff to Ukraine as she had some old hair straighteners to donate!!! I mean seriously I'm pretty sure they have enough to worry about and straightening their hair isn't up on the list!!

I wonder if anyone is sending sanitary towels? It worries me people are forgetting these.

Not unreasonable, I read an article about 'the disaster after the disaster' where aid workers have to try and deal with the mountains of stuff sent to an area that isn't needed/ can't be sorted and goes to waste after something like this has happened. Definitely send money and let the aid organisations deal with what is needed where.

@notacooldad @Fere that’s me told then!!! Sorry!! Just that every time I’ve been to Eastern Europe all the women have been gloriously slim and beautiful! And all the women who live locally who are from Eastern Europe are ridiculously pretty and thin!! Glad you’ve both put me right

I agree, i gave 40 euro to red cross 10 days ago qnd ill do that again because the people running the humanitarian efforts know whats needed

@MadMadMadamMim

Ridiculous.

As ridiculous as the 6th forms who get students to pay thousands of pounds per head to go off and 'build' an orphanage/well/school somewhere in a 3rd world country. It's a jaunt for well off kids and if they genuinely cared they'd donate the money and pay for local - proper- builders to be employed to do this. Not teenage girls with no skills. Apparently it's an amazing life experience to go and patronise poor people in a poverty stricken country.

This. I had a friend who did this as as student. She said she and the other volunteers were completely useless as they had no building skills and no idea what they were doing, couldn't cope with the heat and the local builders just got on with the job.

Well intentioned people. who haven't actually done the hard work of thinking things through or asking the people they want to help what they need, actually can make things worse.

As well, of course, diverting money and effort from where it could actually be well used.

Longcovid21

I wonder if anyone is sending sanitary towels? It worries me people are forgetting these.

You can donate via My Freda myfreda.com/social-purpose

What a bitchy thread!
Along with other people locally, I bought nappies, baby milk, sanitary pads etc, on the first or second day and they went straight off to Poland. Neither I nor anyone I know would dream of sending old clothes. Oh, and by the way - this is the first time I've mentioned it. I have put NOTHING on social media.
How disgusting that a lot of you think this is what it's all about.

Now that more goods are going, my daughter has donated cash, but as others have said, how do you know it's going to the people it's supposed to help?
Can I just mention Oxfam, RSPCA..

@Seymour5

I just hope those sending clothes send decent items. As a volunteer in a charity shop, I’m aware that lots of donated clothes are sold by weight. That’s because they are filthy, or damaged, or simply worn out. Thats fine, sorting is a major part of the process, and they still raise some money.

It would be costly, and patronising, to send similar to Ukraine, but I fear it’s happening because donations to our shop have reduced in the last couple of weeks.

I saw a clip last night, a journalist saying all the supplies behind her are donations from Ireland & that she is speaking to women who have just walked 30 km to get to safety, what they don’t need are donations such as these … and she held up a pair of red 6inch heels 👠

It really shouldn’t need to be said, should it?

I think it is unfair to call such actions "virtue signalling". If it is the case that such convoys are more trouble than they are worth (and I'm not sure if that is true), then doing these journeys should only be described as "misguided".

There are lots of people saying they will house refugees. Should that also be called "virtue signalling" - in fact anything where people are doing their best to help?

I do recall watching a programme regarding the DEC, specifically in relation to Haiti. People had donated huge amounts of money to aid the Haitians but it appeared that very little of it found its way there and people were, and are still, living in awful conditions. I am cautious about where I send money and perhaps others feel similarly and want to give actual clothes and equipment instead.

@Coldcoffeeclub

Someone on my local Facebook posted asking if anyone was talking stuff to Ukraine as she had some old hair straighteners to donate!!! I mean seriously I'm pretty sure they have enough to worry about and straightening their hair isn't up on the list!!

Not to mention they'd need an adaptor to plug them in.

Totally agree, I’d imagine so much will be dumped - it’s just more work for charity workers over there as well as refugees- they don’t need everyone’s old clothes and bedding! I’m sure with some people it’s just an easy way to get rid of their old stuff. And others they want to be seen as heroes. Just donate money to the charities who can provide exactly what they need. Piles of old clothes in foreign sizes and old duvets surely will cause lot of stress, work and time to deal with and then dispose of. And I expect people in other countries are doing the same - just imagine the mountains of random stuff!!

I think piles of second hand clothes at the border and random British people who don't know what they're doing going over in small vans are obviously unhelpful, but quite different from Ukrainian or Polish organisations asking for specific items that they know are needed in specific locations. Plus many people will have donated to charity as well as picked up an extra packet of nappies or donated a spare first aid kit.

Early on I was asked by people in Poland to send certain things I didn't even know how to get - but they said every little bit helps. Polish and Ukrainian people here were also organising relief efforts in my area- I followed whatever they were doing and contributed to that. Many have left and come back now, having collected relatives.

The example of the horsebox and middle class virtue signaling is hysterical - and I get it, I am sure there are people like that at large and this is their big moment. But in my area at least there were more poseurs around COVID. However - hold my beer, who knows if someone will suggest clapping for Zelensky on a Thursday....

But I also personally know people on the front line helping there who have said they have seen no sign of the big charities yet, and these are in towns with lots of incoming refugees. One girl said a local MP turned up with an entourage, had her picture taken, and left. This is not to say the Poles aren't really helping - they very much are- but it was being done by these smaller ventures. I am getting a lot of requests (I do have a regional professional focus on the area) and I'm now trying to figure out which ones I want to support. It's not easy.

I don’t think it’s bitchy, I think it’s just so frustrating now to see local Facebook pages filled with questions like ‘I have old duvets for the Ukraine, where do I take them?’ There just needs to be some thought and maybe a quick Google about what is needed. It’s different if people donate items specifically asked for like nappies, sanitary items etc.

@ItsDisneyBitch thank you
I have just donated.

One list of items required mentioned: flasks, hot water bottles, protein bars, bandages, dry food (rice and pasta), sleeping bags, new underwear, wet baby wipes, sanitary pads/tampon, first aid kits and pet food.

But don’t buy it in the U.K. and transport it over. Clothing isn’t generally required apart from thermal stuff.

I really get that people want to help. A local group showed the boxes of supplies they had donated inside a Polish hospital, and of course it was very moving.

But a family member works in an international charity and said the best way to help is really:

1. donate to one of those charites (eg. Red Cross, Oxfam, or other established charities who already have people, transport, and expert guidance on getting things around safely, local support etc. in place. The £5 you spend on nappies could buy triple the number because they can order in bulk, order without having to pay taxes across borders etc.

1. If you really want to be involved, volunteer for one of those charities, abroad or at home.

It's hard, and I do get why people want to see a physical representation of how much they care (I do too), but just clicking some buttons to donate can be far more helpful.

I think what's clear from this thread is:

a) peer-to-peer support can be very effective,
and
b) it works because the donor responds to specific needs listed by a specific recipient, who will administer the goods when they arrive.

Whereas random giving can be at best wasteful and at worst an active burden on the resources of the affected area.

In my local area there is a chap who has collected a minibus full of goods to take. He arrived early on and distributed the goods to the local aid points to help get them started. He has set up a GoFundMe page, and is still there, using this cash locally, where required (a few days ago it was for wheelchairs for the old and poorly). He is also now using the bus to transport refugees onwards from the border. He specifically asks the local aid workers what is required and who wants moving! More power to this chaps elbow.

What makes me sick is the Facebook 'saints' who have collected clothes etc that would be better off recycled as rags! Or spending £££ in the supermarket on 2 billion nappies, leaving locals having to go to multiple stores just to find a pack!!

@Tgbiyr

Genuinely interested in whether I’m missing something.

I have a friend on Facebook who’s driving part of a convoy of goods for Ukrainian refugees from the UK to Poland. Toiletries, clothes etc. He asked people to donate goods, and now he’s asking people to donate towards fuel costs.

I cannot understand why anyone is doing this. Would it not be better to donate to the Polish charities supporting the refugees than transport lorries full of goods thousands of miles? Or ask for donations of goods to support refugees who come to Britain? What am I missing?

AIBU to think that driving lorries from the UK to Poland isn’t helpful, and the money would be better spent being directly donated to organisations in Poland?

Ah, the rescuers, need to be needed. YANBU.

@ISpyCobraKai

People aren't actually sending dried food and medical supplies though are they? They are sending the dusty old crap from their spare room.

Speak for yourself! I have been helping at a distribution centre sorting out donations and can honestly say that 95% of the donations are thoughtful,clean and practical. Nappies,STs ,Medical supplies,Incontinence pads ,wipes,pain relief,bandages and so I could go on . In fact completely Tat and crap free!

I read of one UK supermarket worker who stopped a customer buying up all the nappies (might have been sanni pads) and put the majority back on the shelves for the regular customers. Too right.