Fashion

[beach-mom]

Does anyone know about an organization that will take clothes and send them DIRECTLY to the Bahamas? DH and I were talking, and throughout the years we've tried to help, we've learned of some groups that will gladly take our monetary donation but use it for whatever that group wants. We now know a few that will send the money directly where we want it to go.

But now we are wondering about clothes. Usually we use DAV, or an organization like that. This time we want to do something different.

Can you help? TIA! 

[chrystaltree]

The Bahamas and other places that have been destroyed by natural disasters don't want used clothes from our attics and basements.  That's not what they need.  What are they  going to do with clothes?  The can't give them to people who have no homes.  They can't store them in buildings that don't exist.  People mean well but sending bags and boxes and barrels of used clothing to disaster areas only creates yet another problem for people and social service organizations.  They have no where to put that stuff and no way to dispose of it.  The Bahamas needs cash contributions to buy the things that victims need and to aid in building and recovery.  

[ILTH]

I know you want to give clothes, but, organizations prefer money rather than clothes and supplies because they know what supplies are need where. Also, the logistics of sorting, storing and dispensing. 

[ILTH]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

The Bahamas and other places that have been destroyed by natural disasters don't want used clothes from our attics and basements.  That's not what they need.  What they are going to clothes clothes?  The can't give them to people who have no homes.  They can't store them in buildings that don't exist.  People mean well but sending bags and boxes and barrels of used clothing to disaster areas only creates yet another problem for people and social service organizations.  They have no where to put that stuff and no way to dispose of it.  The Bahamas needs cash contributions to buy the things that victims need and to aid in building and recovery.  

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 Yeah. We said the same thing at the same time. 

[SilleeMee]

The news people keep saying the Bahamians need money more than anything else. 

[beach-mom]

Never thought about it that way - thanks for the wake up call! Of course we always donate money through the organizations we trust. That is probably the only thing we need to do right now. 

[bmorechick]

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@beach-mom wrote:

Never thought about it that way - thanks for the wake up call! Of course we always donate money through the organizations we trust. That is probably the only thing we need to do right now. 

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What a kind and rational way to respond to suggestions, beach-mom. People are so defensive these days it’s heartwarming to read that you would consider another way. 

[Kachina624]

@beach-mom.  Have you discovered the Charity Navigator wensite?  It rates charities and gives info about what they do.  I discovered it during the earthquake in Katmandu when I was at a loss as to where to send a donation.

[sunshine45]

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@beach-mom wrote:

Never thought about it that way - thanks for the wake up call! Of course we always donate money through the organizations we trust. That is probably the only thing we need to do right now. 

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@beach-mom 

sometimes they DO want clothing. i have a few friends who load boxes up and take them to other countries to distribute at missions, schools, and orphanages. the airlines give them a break on fees. they LOVE getting clothing.......the children and the people who help run those places. you can always keep checking in your area. it is a year round effort for a number of places all over the world.

[libbyannE]

I saw a TV interview with an official in the Bahamas who made it clear that just sending stuff without knowing the actual needs only clogs up the supply attempts. The organizations need money so they can ship in whatever is most needed.