This guest post is from Juanita Rilling, Director of the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI). The CIDI is an education organization that supports international relief through encouraging effective donations by individuals, groups, businesses, and communities. Juanita’s post originally appeared at Good Intentions Are Not Enough.

I have good news for people with big hearts and skinny wallets!  Concerns that an ailing US economy will discourage people from donating in support of international disaster relief have inspired us at the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) to tweak our outreach materials.  Bargain-hunting humanitarians take note – the most effective donations are also the least expensive for donors.

Here’s an example: 100,000 liters of clean water hydrate 40,000 people for a day.  That amount of water purchased in-country costs about $500.  The same amount of water purchased in the US costs about $50,000.  But here’s the kicker – transportation expenses, customs fees and delivery charges add between $150,000 and $700,000 to the cost of sending potable water that can be purchased near the disaster site for $500.

A further distillation of that statistic – $1 of water purchased in the US would not supply even one person with enough drinking water for one day (including capital cost, transportation, taxes, etc.).  In contrast, $1 spent in-country could provide drinking water to approximately 80 people for one day.

Used clothing is another commodity that is expensive from donor to disposal. Western apparel is culturally inappropriate in many countries and is trashed instead of used. Marketplace problems and disposal costs have compelled many countries, including the Philippines, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi and Yemen, to ban importation of used clothing, including during emergencies.

These examples are snapshots of a bigger reality – that unsolicited material donations are high expense to donors and low or negative value to recipients, while cash donations are low expense to donors and high value to recipients.  The two are not on a continuum; they are opposites.

Unsolicited material donations – including canned food, bottled water and used clothing – are usually more expensive to transport than they are worth.  They clog supply chains, take space needed to stage life-saving relief supplies, and divert relief workers’ time. Managing piles of unsolicited “stuff” adds to the cost of emergency response by forcing changes to distribution plans and requiring disposal at further cost. If released into local markets, these donations can put local merchants out of business, adding economic stress to already fragile conditions.

In stark contrast, besides being the easiest gift for donors to give, monetary contributions to established relief agencies support local merchants and local economies, ensure that commodities are fresh and familiar to survivors, that supplies arrive expeditiously and that goods are culturally, nutritionally and environmentally appropriate. No unsolicited material donation can do as much good as quickly and at such low cost, with so little hassle for donor, recipient and host country.

Most people who contact CIDI understand that cash donations are preferred by relief agencies but have never heard about the harm that unsolicited material donations can do. Fortunately, the easiest donation to give also does the most good.  Cash donations convey more benefits to more people at lower cost and with less hassle – now that’s a bargain!

For more information on effective donations, check out www.cidi.org

I just returned from the annual meeting of the National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) in Kansas City, just hours from Joplin, Missouri. The outpouring of support from the public has been unbelievable. But based on feedback I heard from first responders at the meeting, unsolicited donations of water, clothes and other items have significantly challenged relief efforts. One relief organization told me they have thousands of cases of water in their warehouse. The AP highlighted this issue in a story about junk donations creating problems for relief agencies helping tornado victims in Alabama.

In my role with The UPS Foundation, I receive hundreds of calls asking for UPS to ship unsolicited goods. The challenge is that these donations don’t meet the needs of the relief agencies that are helping victims. UPS does not transport collected items from unsolicited donors for relief efforts. Instead, we’ve established in-kind agreements with relief organizations like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, CARE, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the Aidmatrix Network. Our goal is provide logistics support to deliver the right items to the right place at the right time.

In 2010, UPS transported over 3 million pounds of urgent relief supplies for these agencies, and approximately $2 million in free shipping in response to disasters around the world. 

When disaster strikes, compassion and concern often stir people to help. But what’s the best way to truly provide help … and not hurt relief efforts? Here’s what disaster relief agencies shared with me.    

Donate Money

Financial contributions are often the best kind of donation to make. There are many relief organizations with considerable experience in areas such as clean-up, mass feeding, mass sheltering, first aid, crisis counseling, child care, home repair and pet care. When the public supports these organizations with financial donations, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster. The NVOAD offers a list of relief organizations involved in preparedness, prevention, response and recovery in the U.S at nvoad.org. To learn more about relief organizations involved in international disasters, visit interaction.org.

If Donating Goods, Verify Items Will be Accepted and Used

Before taking action, contact a relief agency to confirm what items are needed. Do not begin collecting, packing or shipping until you have a known recipient who will accept the donation. It often takes a week before first responders can assess local needs after a disaster. The Aidmatrix Network connects donors to the needs of relief agencies who respond to disasters. Agencies post their needs on the site, so donors can match them. When donors match the items in demand, either the agency or UPS will provide priority transportation. Make sure shipments of donated goods are well packed and labeled. Put yourself in the shoes of the person on the receiving end of the shipment and think about making the unpacking, warehousing and distribution as simple as possible. For example, list contents on the outside of the box to make it easier to sort items.

If you are collecting goods, but don’t see a match at the Aidmatrix Network, consider holding a garage sale and donating the proceeds to the agency of your choice.

For Volunteers, Take Advantage of Disaster Assistance Training

Before the next disaster strikes, sign up for training. Volunteers are encouraged to affiliate with an organization involved in disaster response and recovery. Plan to be as self-sufficient as possible. If there is a volunteer center in the area, it is an excellent source of information about opportunities to help after a disaster. Check out HandsOnNetwork.org.

The generosity and kindness of people including our own customers does a lot to help communities heal from tragic consequences of disasters. However it’s important to first coordinate the help with experienced disaster relief organizations so that people in need of help receive it in the most timely and effective manner.

For more than 60 years, Toys for Tots has been bringing smiles to the faces of less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy. The Toys for Tots tradition is well known and respected in every community nationwide. In 2008, with the help of The UPS Store®, Toys for Tots extended its reach and impact in a meaningful way by providing children in need with the gift of a new book.

This new initiative, the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, brings the joy of reading to these children, but also serves as an important tool in breaking the cycle of poverty. It is estimated that there are approximately 14 million children living in poverty in the U.S. and unfortunately, after the recent recession, this number is increasing.

In low-income neighborhoods, the ratio of books per child is one age-appropriate book for every 300 children.* I know, it’s hard to imagine this as you look around your child’s room and see books filling shelves and piled up next to their bed, where, every night you enjoy one, two, or three books together before bedtime.

It just so happens that my favorite family tradition takes place every Christmas Eve when my dad, or “Papa” as he is known to his grandkids, pulls out “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” piles the kids on his lap, and with great enthusiasm reads to a captivated audience. On their first Christmas Eve, each grandchild is given their very own edition of this Christmas classic, which each will treasure for a lifetime.  

I am sure that many families have a similar tradition, whether it is the same story or another Christmas classic. There are, however, many children that may never have had these books read to them – ever. During the holidays, so many of these children wake up on Christmas to nothing under the tree and some lose faith in the magic of the season.

As you are out shopping and shipping this holiday season, consider donating a dollar at a participating The UPS Store location. For every dollar donated, a book is placed into the hands of a local child in need. Donations can also be made online at http://www.toysfortotsliteracy.org/.

And, amongst the piles of toys and video games you buy for your own children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, pick up a couple of books and start a tradition of your own.

 *Included in the “Handbook of Early Literacy Research”, Vol. 2 edited by Susan Nueman and David Dickinson