In-Kind
donations are gifts of goods and services.These gifts can be very valuable for relief operations, but restrictions
apply to what, where and how such gifts can be made.Some donations, though well-intentioned, have
hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts.
The Red
Cross is unable to accept small, individual donations or collections of items
such as clothing, food or cleaning supplies.The Red Cross can’t accept these unsolicited, spontaneous donations
because:
There needs to be enough of a
particular item supplied for it to be distributed equitably.Small donations and collections don’t
meet these criteria.
The Red Cross makes every
attempt to procure items locally to help the economy of the area affected,
ensure the cultural appropriateness of the items, save transportation and
storage costs and keep the roads clear for priority items and travel.
The Red Cross can’t guarantee
the usability and safety of such products.We don’t know the origins, conditions and expiration dates of
collected items.
Collections require time, money
and personnel to process, all precious resources in disaster relief.Following disasters, all relief workers
and resources focus on the people affected and meeting their emergency
needs.There are no resources
available for examining, sorting and cleaning.
The Red
Cross will sometimes accept bulk donations of products that are immediately
needed on an ongoing disaster relief operation.“Bulk donations” refers to large donations of a single product.Because the quantities required on relief
operations are significant, these donations are typically provided by companies
that manufacture or distribute the product needed, and have the resources to
ship it directly to the disaster site.
If you have
collections of goods and individual items, these have the greatest impact when
they are donated to charitable organizations within your own community.Local agencies not operating in disaster
relief will have the time to sort, clean and repair goods and identify how and
where they can be most beneficial.
If you or
your company would like to make a donation of goods or services that you think
would be appropriate for Red Cross relief efforts or your local Red Cross
chapter, please contact our Financial Development Office at 541-344-5244.
