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?

@Chocolattay

Was anybody else a little at the Air B and B thing? Letting people book rentals in Ukraine with no intention of going to help out the owners.

I know they meant well and I’m sure it’s helped but I can’t help but think if you own an Air B and B you’re probably financially okay.

Maybe but we rented a house in Hungary and found the owners were living in a shed in the back garden so I don't think they were particularly well off.

I am Polish and know a lot of people who volunteer or host Ukrainian refugees and YANBU. A lot of donation centers have run out of volunteers who can sort out things and are completely overwhelmed. Another issue is that the needs change every day - one day they need drinks in small bottles and snacks to distribute to those arriving after 20 hour long train journey, next day they need nappies or books for kids in daycare, so in two days which take to drive to Poland it might turn out the centers won't accept what you brought.

There are plenty of organisations ranging from international (Unicef, Red Cross), local (PAH) and individuals helping directly, that one can really pick and choose the cause which is closest to their hearts and donate, especially as Polish currency weakened after the invasion versus £ (I saw collections from legitimate charities for supplies for children with Celiac Disease, wigs for children suffering from cancer that had to leave their home etc.). I can imagine situation is the same in other countries receiving Ukrainians.

Also whilst so far there has been a lot of help coming from individual citizens, if people are not able to return home in nearest feature then we will need to organise the type of help which goes beyond what individual citizens can provide such as legal, medical, educational, language help. This type of help is not as media-friendly and a bit boring to report on, but it is going to be absolutely necessary. Big charities, for all their faults, are much better equipped to tackle such issues and they will need cash.

It's all for social media clout. Expect photos put up regularly throughout the whole trip, hundreds of likes and comments like "hero" etc

@Chocolattay

Was anybody else a little at the Air B and B thing? Letting people book rentals in Ukraine with no intention of going to help out the owners.

I know they meant well and I’m sure it’s helped but I can’t help but think if you own an Air B and B you’re probably financially okay.

I don’t know - I thought this was a good idea. Even if pre-war, these air b&b owners weren’t badly off, the majority of middle class people wouldn’t last very long if forced to stop working, and of course, the property they own won’t be worth anything any more.

Possibly the money would be better going to DEC than to air b&b but I didn’t think this did any harm

The best way to help is giving money to organisations that are in situ, ready to help. Preferably the money giving wouldn't be bragged about on social media!

ideas.ted.com/after-a-disaster-dont-send-toys-or-clothing-send-money-heres-why/

Maybe it's a cover and really they are driving into Ukraine to get people out?

That Martin Roberts guy seems to be high on his own supply of sainthood. He says he’s lost for words, sadly he isn’t:

twitter.com/tvmartinroberts/status/1503476105596096519?s=21

While others unpack the vans, Martin is overcome by his own “mission”:

twitter.com/tvmartinroberts/status/1503443241399722000?s=21

Thankfully of course there’s endless people who know what they’re doing and just get on with it, with no testerics.

@secretsqizzle

I'm going on Sunday . I have a huge transit van full of specific stuff requested by the 'helpukrainiancenter' based in Chelm Poland.

We have a huge amount of new unused medical equipment from 2 care homes that have closed down. The stuff is unopened and still sterile. My Polish friend has literally begged for this. I have a free van, donated by local builder . I have crowd funded the petrol. 1 k to take 50k of stuff.. not a bad return.
I don't want 'thanks'
I absolutely don't want my name on this .
I do not want this stuff in a landfill so this is the only acceptable action.

Safe journey x

@SparklingLime

While others unpack the vans, Martin is overcome by his own “mission”:

twitter.com/tvmartinroberts/status/1503443241399722000?s=21

Thankfully of course there’s endless people who know what they’re doing and just get on with it, with no testerics.

Isn't he the bloke off homes under the hammer!? Nick Knowles will be out there next!

I, along with others have spent the past two weeks sorting through the donations separating them into different boxes, junking the unsuitable items.
It's being Co ordinated by members of the Polish community here and every day we are told what items are needed to be prioritised. They have specific locations to be dropped when they get there.
I don't see a problem with this. Everyone helping in their own way.

Gorp? what does that mean?

Gorp means to have a look or stare. Never told your DC to 'stop gorping'?

This is not a new thing I remember soap being collected and driven to orphanages in Eastern Europe was I was at school in the 90s, no FB but schools and churches made sure everyone knew. Money makes more sense but giving a "thing" somehow makes you feel like you are actually helping.

@thenightsky

Gorp? what does that mean?

Gorp means to have a look or stare. Never told your DC to 'stop gorping'?

Its gawp, gorp is a snack.

Fill the empty Van's with children and their mums

One view on why money is better: ideas.ted.com/after-a-disaster-dont-send-toys-or-clothing-send-money-heres-why/?fbclid=IwAR339bongcwfYXpDvPl8rPDrhVx9niroyLvcc4oTRbD5D4muQ3_SPkm5KC8

It’s ridiculous! Sick of people deciding they want to drive into a chaotic situation to help by taking shit they can gather

Self absorbed wannabes in most cases!

Tbf all the collections round my area have specified that they won't be taking clothes so only food, toiletries etc are going. But I agree, it must be absolute chaos.

Someone in our town is setting off tomorrow, they've even had the outside of the van printed up for the trip. It's ridiculous how much money is being wasted by people going on these virtue signalling trips.

Not rtft yet but reports from Polish friend are that shops are running out of stock due to generous Poles buying all stock to help refugees, and supply issues are preventing restocking. Help getting any manner of required goods to wherever they're needed by any means necessary, including driving truckloads of stuff from here.

@Ddot

Fill the empty Van's with children and their mums

Truck that went from near to us did exactly that. Took families to Paris so they could complete visa documentation then hopefully to come here where they have family.

@Curlywurlyontoast

There was a bloke on the news who had driven a lorry of stuff to Poland and when interviewed, he said it was a waste of time and that donating money was far more useful.

I saw that interview, (I have the news on in the background a lot while I’m pottering about doing jobs). Lots of the bbc interviews have been on several times throughout the day on the news channel, but he was only on the once that I saw. Almost like they didn’t like what he said. The bbc have given a lot of airtime to the Uk collections and ‘man with a van’ transporting all kinds of stuff out to Poland so I doubt they want to be giving airtime to someone who thought that Plan was a good idea two weeks ago but is now admitting just how wrong he was and that giving cash to organised charities Who know exactly how to help Is the best idea.

I thought that polish shops would run out of baby milk etc with the increased demand (remember petrol crisis and supermarkets during covid) and so money alone wouldn’t be enough for things where demand will outstrip supply, at least initially until supply can adjust

@TeaForTiger

They want to be a hero, say they were there and have a gorp at the people.

Or feel like they are actually doing something to help.