Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why people are driving to Poland?

472 replies

Tgbiyr · 16/03/2022 18:55

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Gwenhwyfar · 17/03/2022 21:06

I know somebody doing this. He lives in Poland and is travelling anyway. He says the charities there actually do want stuff rather than money.

mumda · 17/03/2022 21:08

Maybe they pee petrol.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/03/2022 21:10

I think it’s been really well explained on this thread.

Money is the most useful thing at the moment. There’ll come a time when physical donations to refugees who’ve actually reached a destination are useful but it’s not yet, and not a case of driving stuff over to Poland.

It’s hard to here that the best thing is to let the experts get on with it but if that’s the advice it’s best to stick to it.

SundayTeatime · 17/03/2022 21:11

@malificent7

I don't get why so many are against helping others.
No one is against helping others. It’s just that this isn’t helping. As pp said, it’s like your toddler helping you tidy up by dumping all his toys in the middle of the kitchen. It’s a waste of time, money, effort - and it doesn’t help. It makes it worse.
Astrak · 17/03/2022 21:12

What a nasty judgemental lot you are. I was asked to donate specific goods and did so. Yes, they went off in a horsebox and, apparently, were received with thanks.
At that time, people were not going to Poland.
Why snipe at people doing their best to help with the situation they had been told about

SundayTeatime · 17/03/2022 21:18

@Astrak

What a nasty judgemental lot you are. I was asked to donate specific goods and did so. Yes, they went off in a horsebox and, apparently, were received with thanks. At that time, people were not going to Poland. Why snipe at people doing their best to help with the situation they had been told about
That’s a nasty and judgmental thing to say.
Amlaughingsomuchnot · 17/03/2022 21:19

I have friends in Poland and they actually do need medical and sanitary donations…the Polish people are very organised and they are very capable of ensuring that donations are distributed in an organised way ….think the doubters on MN have been very disingenuous towards the Polish people!
They do not have supplies in Poland to cater for these desperate refugees. One friend has 3 babies under the age of 1 in her home…she is a Dr and unable to work .

secretsqizzle · 17/03/2022 21:20

So should I go ? I have a long wheel based van full of medical aid. From a nursing home that has closed down and has offered all their stuff to the NHS but they have no process to accept it..
Sterile bandages, catheters, stoma's , tourniquets etc..

I have crowd funded the diesel.
The distribution centre WANTS the stuff I have...

Should I drive it to Chelm in Poland go the distribution centre or to the local landfill . ?

Original poster
Tgbiyr · 17/03/2022 21:25

I was asked to donate specific goods and did so.

Who asked you to do this, @Astrak?

I am now told that my friend’s convoy is taking (NHS donated) medical supplies, helmets, wheelchairs, and tactical clothing for the front line. He also mentioned food a while ago. Apparently they couldn’t get anyone else to transport these things.

OP posts:
Fere · 17/03/2022 21:29

I translated a short note I got from my friend tonight.
"I spent 12 hours at the Refugee Center today. Somehow I lost track of time.
Emotions, emotions, emotions.
A lot of positive. Lots of beautiful women. Beautiful in a spiritual sense.
I had a little cry with one old lady. With another I shared a cupcake. She started to cry when she already had food and cleaning products, and we asked her if she needed tampons, sanjtary pads, face cream or any make up (we were given a large cardboard box of various stuff).
They often forget to ask about it because they are focused on the family, forgetting about themselves.
You can't imagine how much happoness a simple nail file can bring you. There's shortage of nail clippers,for those women getting one is like a dream come true and a scarce commodity.
Now I am crying again"

So please stop being judgemental of what people who lost everything need or don't need.
They had to wear winter clothes on to come over. How much can you carry when you have to walk 30-40 km by foot, with your child and your mother?

Patapouf · 17/03/2022 21:29

Hero complex, it's embarrassing

NotBeforeCoffee · 17/03/2022 21:31

Agree. And what a waste of money when the majority of your donation is actually going to the supermarket as profit. Sending the full amount you can afford in money to a charity is much more affective.

I always get annoyed that supermarkets profit from these things, same with food bank donations

DuckyNoMates · 17/03/2022 21:32

@secretsqizzle

So should I go ? I have a long wheel based van full of medical aid. From a nursing home that has closed down and has offered all their stuff to the NHS but they have no process to accept it.. Sterile bandages, catheters, stoma's , tourniquets etc..

I have crowd funded the diesel.
The distribution centre WANTS the stuff I have...

Should I drive it to Chelm in Poland go the distribution centre or to the local landfill . ?

Yes you should go. The distribution centre wants what you have.
Original poster
Tgbiyr · 17/03/2022 21:33

@Fere

I translated a short note I got from my friend tonight. "I spent 12 hours at the Refugee Center today. Somehow I lost track of time. Emotions, emotions, emotions. A lot of positive. Lots of beautiful women. Beautiful in a spiritual sense. I had a little cry with one old lady. With another I shared a cupcake. She started to cry when she already had food and cleaning products, and we asked her if she needed tampons, sanjtary pads, face cream or any make up (we were given a large cardboard box of various stuff). They often forget to ask about it because they are focused on the family, forgetting about themselves. You can't imagine how much happoness a simple nail file can bring you. There's shortage of nail clippers,for those women getting one is like a dream come true and a scarce commodity. Now I am crying again"

So please stop being judgemental of what people who lost everything need or don't need.
They had to wear winter clothes on to come over. How much can you carry when you have to walk 30-40 km by foot, with your child and your mother?

Are you saying that Poland has a shortage of nail clippers?
OP posts:
Amlaughingsomuchnot · 17/03/2022 21:35

@Fere

I translated a short note I got from my friend tonight. "I spent 12 hours at the Refugee Center today. Somehow I lost track of time. Emotions, emotions, emotions. A lot of positive. Lots of beautiful women. Beautiful in a spiritual sense. I had a little cry with one old lady. With another I shared a cupcake. She started to cry when she already had food and cleaning products, and we asked her if she needed tampons, sanjtary pads, face cream or any make up (we were given a large cardboard box of various stuff). They often forget to ask about it because they are focused on the family, forgetting about themselves. You can't imagine how much happoness a simple nail file can bring you. There's shortage of nail clippers,for those women getting one is like a dream come true and a scarce commodity. Now I am crying again"

So please stop being judgemental of what people who lost everything need or don't need.
They had to wear winter clothes on to come over. How much can you carry when you have to walk 30-40 km by foot, with your child and your mother?

Am crying reading this and this is why anyone who can help should just donate the simple things that we take for granted! Am hoping that the posters on this thread read your message and go to bed feeling bloody ashamed of themselves! Bet they don’t reply !
Fere · 17/03/2022 21:35

@SundayTeatime there's need for clothes, I think you are not well informed and writing about situation you have no idea about.

What experience of prividing aid in crisis do you have?
People walked many kilometers by foot, do you think they carried clothes with them?

Amlaughingsomuchnot · 17/03/2022 21:37

@secretsqizzle

So should I go ? I have a long wheel based van full of medical aid. From a nursing home that has closed down and has offered all their stuff to the NHS but they have no process to accept it.. Sterile bandages, catheters, stoma's , tourniquets etc..

I have crowd funded the diesel.
The distribution centre WANTS the stuff I have...

Should I drive it to Chelm in Poland go the distribution centre or to the local landfill . ?

Yes definitely…they do need these supplies! Just look after yourself and bare in mind the problem at Dover .X
Amlaughingsomuchnot · 17/03/2022 21:38

Sorry just read your message again…Poland rather than landfill!! X

Original poster
Tgbiyr · 17/03/2022 21:38

@Amlaughingsomuchnot No one is saying that refugees need help, but that people driving from the UK to Poland with vans filled with stuff isn’t helping.

My friend is taking a convoy of 6 vans, and has crowdfunded for the £2000 of petrol per van. That’s £12,000 wasted on fuel which could’ve directly went to charities already based in Poland. £12,000 extra to spend in Poland on things which refugees need. Why do goods need transporting from the UK?

OP posts:
Fere · 17/03/2022 21:39

@secretsqizzle if you need any help with going to Poland please PM me, I can look to contact amongst charities in Poland who can communicate with you to help with where to deliver your stuff.

Original poster
Tgbiyr · 17/03/2022 21:41

[quote Fere]@SundayTeatime there's need for clothes, I think you are not well informed and writing about situation you have no idea about.

What experience of prividing aid in crisis do you have?
People walked many kilometers by foot, do you think they carried clothes with them?[/quote]
Local authorities have been assigning refugees to accommodation options very efficiently, so from our assessment on the ground, there is no current need for HF to collect and send clothing, shoes, toys or hygiene kits to the border areas. Most of the refugees have the belongings in a suitcase and do not have room to take additional items. Funds raised are being used to access resources locally based on the demand we are seeing from the refugees themselves.

reliefweb.int/report/poland/ukraine-crisis-situation-update-02-12-march-2022

OP posts:
oldandscunnered · 17/03/2022 21:43

I think some people do it to be in the thick of things and see what is going on first hand. I don't get it either. They need money not people turning up with tins of beans and soup.

SundayTeatime · 17/03/2022 21:43

[quote Fere]@SundayTeatime there's need for clothes, I think you are not well informed and writing about situation you have no idea about.

What experience of prividing aid in crisis do you have?
People walked many kilometers by foot, do you think they carried clothes with them?[/quote]
Clothing, apart from thermal stuff and underwear, is not on the lists. Of course people carried only minimal clothing with them. But it is not an essential for now, assuming everyone has the basics that they left with, bearing in mind other stuff that is more immediately useful.

Whatinthelord · 17/03/2022 21:45

I totally agree. I think sending money for things to be purchased locally would allow for the most needed things to be purchased and for the purchases to benefit the economy of the bourse ring countries currently supporting the refugees.

I’ve read countless articles about bulk donations, in crisis, being unless and at times a burden rather than a help.

I think it’s lovely people want to help, but nothing helps as much as cold harsh cash in the hands of organisation working on the ground who know what’s needed.

Amlaughingsomuchnot · 17/03/2022 21:49

I think your flippant comment about nail clippers basically sums up your lack of humanity!
As a female I cannot imagine how awful it is having a heavy period,a baby without nappies and the horrific stress of literally losing everything!
Poland doesn’t actually have the stock to cater for these poor people!
The charity’s are not actually getting the money to theses people yet whereas donations from the UK are .