An expert's advice on what NOT to donate to the Haitian relief effort
From my elementary school friend Rocky Lopes*, former Manager of Disaster Education for the Red Cross and now a consultant on disaster education and relief:
STOP setting up clothing drives! Unsolicited material donations are frequently referred to as "the second disaster." They don't need clothes. They need medical supplies, helicopters, appropriate food (no, this does not mean you should start a canned food drive), and trained personnel. Organizations helping them need CASH. If you have donated clothes, have a yard sale and donate the proceeds.
*We reconnected on Facebook.
STOP setting up clothing drives! Unsolicited material donations are frequently referred to as "the second disaster." They don't need clothes. They need medical supplies, helicopters, appropriate food (no, this does not mean you should start a canned food drive), and trained personnel. Organizations helping them need CASH. If you have donated clothes, have a yard sale and donate the proceeds.
*We reconnected on Facebook.