Donate Smart(er)

When disaster strikes, we want to help.

South Lake Tahoe is currently evacuating ahead of the Caldor Wildfire. Hurricane Ida just swept through New Orleans on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Haiti has a long road to recovery after their recent earthquakes.

Given the outpouring of support for the victims of these disasters, now seems like a good time to review a few ways to donate smart(er) so all of these good intentions can have the best result.

Background

I feel qualified to offer this perspective because I once worked for the American Red Cross. I was in my late twenties and had never considered working in disaster response before the job sort of landed in my lap. It was a steep learning curve.

In 2 years, I was assigned to 2 wildfire response efforts, working +18 hour days to receive incoming donations and organize recovery services for wildfire victims. In between disasters, I spend hundreds of hours meeting with community-based organizations and government agencies planning our response efforts for future disasters. A common meeting topic: how can we collectively and effectively process the inevitable disaster donations?

Of course, the best way to process donations is to first educate the public about which donations are (and are not) needed. Consider this a helpful step in that direction.

How to Donate Smart(er)

Tip #1

Watching the news from the comfort of our living room, it can be hard to tell what's really happening in a disaster area. If you've never lived in Lake Tahoe or New Orleans, it can be hard to grasp the lay of the land, tough to imagine the fabric of the community, almost impossible to anticipate what they might need during this difficult time.

Local organizations know better than anyone else. They live and work in the communities they serve. They understand the geography and politics of their city, county, or state better than an outsider ever will. They know how and when to provide the right resources to those who need it most. Seek them out and support them so they can do their jobs.

In Louisiana, check out The Cajun Navy Foundation. In Lake Tahoe, check out the El Dorado Community Foundation.

Tip #2

When supporting these local organizations, make sure you hear what they're saying. They are making specific requests because they're there, on the front lines, working with the victims of the disaster every day. They know what is needed. They're asking for it.

Please don't donate any of the following without a specific request from a specific organization:

- Used clothes or furniture

- Food items, including canned goods

- Medication and/or medical supplies

- Pet supplies

- Toys

It's that simple.

Tip #3

For some people, cash donations are a tough sell. It's hard to trust your money is going exactly where you want it to, that it won't be re-directed to some other project or purpose. There's something concrete about giving used clothes or canned goods. You know exactly where it's going and exactly how it will be used.

.... Or do you?

The truth of the matter is that most physical donations end up in the landfill.

Why? Because disasters are chaos. No one has time to sift through or organize the MOUNTAIN of donations that will inevitably pour in from around the state, region, or country. And, truthfully, someone impacted by a disaster does not want to pick through a mountain of donations to find a shirt in their size, or a used kitchen table, or a teddy bear for their child. This is especially true in a global pandemic.

Victims of disasters want to feel a small semblance of normalcy in a turbulent time. They want the dignity of using a pre-loaded debit card to buy a change of clothes from their local discount superstore. They want the freedom to seek out what they need to help improve their own unique situation.

Financial donations make this (and so much more) possible.

Do your research and make sure the organization is reputable. If you're not sure where to begin, I recommend looking for a general "Disaster Fund" sponsored by the local government agency where the disaster has taken place. For the Caldor Wildfire in Lake Tahoe, you can visit this link. When this post was written, they had already raised $275,000. For Hurricane Ida, there's another fund here.

Every little bit helps.

Tip #4

In the midst of a global pandemic and recession, money is tight for many. If a financial donation is out of the question, you can still do your part by helping to spread (good) information. Donating your time to fact check and then share up-to-date info can help many, both inside and outside of the disaster-affected area.

First, find and "follow" local government agencies and (verified) community-based organizations on social media. They'll send relevant updates on things like evacuation routes, donation requests, drop-off locations, volunteer opportunities and so much more.

Re-post these updates as they come. Remember that, during disaster response, information can quickly become outdated. Be sure to post current, correct information only. If you see bad information circulating on other accounts, message them and politely explain that the information is out of date. Direct them towards a more reliable source of information.

Remember: during disasters, most people just want to help.

Thank you for reading through this guide and for being so eager to make a difference. I hope this post has helped some of your best intentions become smart donations.