When disaster strikes in the United States, the goodhearted American people immediately take action. They rush to their pantries, medicine cabinets, and closets to gather every can of beans, jar of Advil, and pair of pants within arm's reach. However, when it comes time to turn over such supplies to the people that need them the most, these physical donations can become more burdensome than beneficial to relief efforts.
There is no doubt that these efforts are made with the best intent, however, there are a few problems that commonly arise. Foods often are perishable, or have the potential of contamination during transport, and therefore cannot be given to disaster victims. The same is true with medicines – while there is a demand for all medication ranging from ibuprofen to insulin and beyond, it is unsafe to dispense medication where both the source and safety of which are unclear. Additionally, many home storage mechanisms for medicine are ambiguous - while grandma might know that the big pink pill next to the white round one means Benadryl, that is unfortunately not apparent to all eyes. Clothing can cause the same backup – a winter coat during July in the south can work as a pillow, but that's about the extent of its immediate usefulness. At the end of the day, it is estimated that over 60% of the supplies that are donated are discarded for one of these reasons.
During large disasters, many cities become oversaturated and simultaneously overwhelmed with the incredible influx of donations. Planes are forced to turn around because there is no room for more supplies, which can mean that the actual necessary materials are delayed in their arrival and implementation.
In addition to the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma, since the start of 2013 alone, the US has seen many other natural disasters - flash floods, earthquakes, landslides, fires, avalanches, and storms - that have impacted the lives of people from every corner of the nation. Let's take a moment and disregard whatever arguments you may have for or against the validity of climate change, global warming, or for these acts being just a strange coincidence, let us recognize the need for proper collective action to bring our fellow citizens back on their feet.
Instead of focusing on relief efforts that can unfortunately detract from the overall initiatives, here are some ways to channel our great intentions in a more productive manner:
1.Donate Money. It's straightforward, and can be of most immediate assistance. This can be done by text, by phone, online – you name it. They might even be implementing a carrier pigeon program in the near future. This ensures that relief gets to the people that need it as quickly as possible. When you donate, please make sure it is to a reputable organization (such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.) to ensure that the largest percent of your donation goes directly to helping disaster victims.
2.Donate Blood. After a disaster, increased medical demand compile onto to the already high demand for blood donations. This can be arranged through the Red Cross or other local organizations. Your closest blood drive can be found at http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation or http://www.aabb.org/resources/donation/pages/bblocator.aspx.
3.Turn items into cash. This can be done through such mediums as yard sales, bake sales, or silent auctions in your own community. Additionally, there are sources online such as EBay Giving Works (http://givingworks.ebay.com/) where you can sell items and donate the proceeds directly to an organization of your choosing.
4.Offer housing. While relief organizations do everything within their power to accommodate for the inevitable demand for housing, there can often be individuals and families without a place to stay for an extended period of time. If your household is comfortable offering a place to stay for any given amount of time, you can register your home at http://hurricanehousingsearch.org/.
5.Write to your local Senators and Congressmen. While budget cuts are happening across the board, it is important to ensure that agencies such as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), The Red Cross, and other disaster response groups have access to the funding necessary to save lives and restore communities. While a tornado or hurricane might not directly impact your community, keep in mind the devastating impacts that the natural disasters since the turn of the century alone have caused. By writing to your representatives, it reminds them that their constituents are invested in keeping these disaster relief agencies functioning at their maximum potential.
6.Volunteer. Whether it's in the immediate aftermath or during the restoration process, organizations like Habitat for Humanity and local soup kitchens are always looking for helping hands.
7.Talk to agencies in the effected areas. If you are set on donating supplies, be sure to contact local relief agencies to establish what exactly is in demand, and the most effective way to deliver the donations.
In a country that is plagued with partisan ideologies and incredible amounts of bureaucracy, it is refreshing and inspiring to see that we as a nation can work towards a common goal. While democrats and republicans can find a way to disagree on just about any contentious (and to be honest, non-contentious) issue, the bottom line is that people need help, and Americans will stop at nothing to make sure that victims of natural disaster have the resources they need to rebuild, reconnect, and restart.
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