Dos and Don’ts of Donating After Disasters

Here in the Houston metro area and the surrounding region, we’re reeling from the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. The needs are so numerous that they’re virtually impossible to catalogue.

Aftermaths like this are faced each year in various locations around the world after earthquakes, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and other disasters. Many of us want to give to the relief and rebuilding efforts after these disasters. What things should we keep in mind when doing this?

Dos and don’ts of making donations after disasters

Here are five critical dos and don’ts to keep in mind when donating after disasters. These are relevant regardless of the type or location of the disaster.

Do donate

We all have something to contribute. What and how much we can contribute will depend on our circumstances, talents, and locations, but we all have something to give. We can certainly all pray, and prayer is a great starting point.

Those who live near a disaster location may be able to:

• Give money to organizations performing relief and recovery work
• Help with cleanup
• Volunteer with relief and recovery organizations (manning shelters, sorting donations, distributing goods, etc.)
• Donate goods (see discussion below about donating goods)
• Donate blood
• Babysit, prepare meals, or do laundry for families touched by the disaster
• Host displaced individuals in their homes
• Listen to and encourage friends, neighbors, and even strangers
• Help connect friends and neighbors with needs to individuals and organizations that can meet the needs

Those who live far from a disaster location may be able to:

• Give money to organizations performing relief and recovery work
• Participate in local events that raise funds for relief and recovery efforts
• Encourage friends and neighbors to give generously
• Donate goods (see discussion below about donating goods)
• Travel as a short-term volunteer with organizations performing relief and recovery work

Don’t give physical goods unless they are specifically requested by individuals and organizations who know the needs and are able to distribute the items

When a disaster strikes, many of us have things on hand (clothes, canned foods, hygiene supplies, bottled water, etc.) that we are more than happy to give to those in need. Our hearts are in the right place, but often times these physical items cause trouble instead of helping. Here are some examples (source):

• Hurricane Mitch struck Honduras in 1998, killing more than 11,000 people and leaving a million and a half homeless. People across the U.S. and from other nations sent clothes to aid the victims. So much clothing arrived that humanitarian workers called it “the second disaster.” A plane packed full of necessary supplies couldn’t land at the airport because bales and boxes of donated clothes covered the runway. It was a logistical nightmare.
• Following the tsunami that struck Banda Aceh, Indonesia in 2004, people from around the world donated clothes for the victims. No one was available to sort through and distribute these clothes, so they sat on a beach. They became wet and dirty and eventually rotted. Local officials ended up pouring gasoline on them and setting them on fire to dispose of them.
• Donors spent $300,000 to send 100,000 liters of drinking water to West Africa. This was generous and the water could be used. However, relief organizations with portable water purification units could have produced this same amount of water for just $300. If the donors would have given their $300,000 to aid organizations and allowed them to use water purification units, then 100,000,000 liters of clean water would have been provided instead of just 100,000!

Yes, the victims of disasters need things. Just remember that things pile up and they need to be sorted, stored, and distributed. Also, shipping or transporting is generally more expensive than buying what’s needed close to the disaster. For these reasons, it’s often best to provide monetary gifts to relief agencies (even if you can only provide small gifts). These agencies can do so much because they already have infrastructure and purchasing agreements in place.

Do choose reputable organizations when donating

Unfortunately, there are greedy individuals who will take advantage of donors’ generosity after disasters. These individuals will act as though they are collecting money for victims, but they will actually pocket the money themselves. Before donating money or goods to an organization, make sure the organization is legitimate and trustworthy. Choose organizations you know use funds wisely and perform valuable work. If you’re uncertain about an organization, use a source like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, GuideStar, or Charity Navigator. Read more about avoiding charity scams here.

You may also want to consider if a charity has experience responding to disasters. There may be many wonderful, effective charities who perform work unrelated to disasters (working with the homeless, providing afterschool tutoring to students, etc.) that begin collecting money in response to a disaster in their community. Unfortunately, because of their inexperience, these charities may have no idea how to use donations to meet disaster-related needs. If you really want your money to assist disaster victims, then consider giving to a charity with experience in disaster relief and recovery.

Don’t show up individually to provide aid

After a disaster strikes, there are often many opportunities to travel to the location where it happened and provide hands-on assistance. However, it is generally ill-advised to go into a disaster area on your own and attempt to provide aid (especially if the disaster occurred overseas). You run the risk of becoming a victim yourself. Likewise, the community may have an acute need for volunteers with specific skills (such as nurses or translators) and you may simply be in the way if you don’t have these skills.

Do what you can where you are while the disaster is occurring, then join with a team of people who are working with local organizations. The team will provide safety in numbers and the local organization will make sure your skills are matched with local needs.

Do continue giving when the disaster is no longer in the headlines

As the days, weeks, and months pass, the disaster will no longer be in the news headlines. However, individuals in the disaster area will still be working to recover. They will still be cleaning up, rebuilding, and grieving. Because the eyes of the nation and world are no longer on the community, donations will no longer pour in. This is an excellent time to donate, because it is likely donations are still desperately needed.

Final thoughts

When you feel compassion and want to give after a disaster strikes, you want to do it quickly so the money or goods can begin helping those in need immediately. As you can see, though, it’s a good idea to pause and think through your options before donating time, possessions, or money. Doing this can make sure your donation has a significant impact.

What tips would you add? What are some other dos and don’ts of donating after disasters?

Shared at the following:

The Art of Homemaking, Tuesday Talk, Coffee and Conversation, Awesome Life Friday, Friday Frivolity, Over the Moon, and Tutorials and Tips Link Party.

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