ABSTRACT
First, let us walk through what usually happens with donations followed by some examples . A disaster happens, and people watching via traditional or social media believe that survivors require certain items . Imagine the number of people observing the disaster via media, which could potentially reach millions of people . Their collective outpouring of aid could easily inundate an area . To worsen the matter, people will make assumptions about what is needed and send predictable but unsolicited items like used clothing or canned goods . While this may seem like a good idea, the volume of donations that arrive usually proves overwhelming . The assumptions that people make about what to send often prove unfounded as well-and clothing or food arrives that is not always appropriate for local conditions, cultures, faiths, and nutritional needs or for the work people do or the school students attend . In short, too much “stuff” arrives that is not appropriate . The arrival of unsolicited donations then creates significant problems with sorting, moving, storing, and disposing, all of which takes people power, places, and resources to manage (see Photo 12 .1) . In addition, most donors contribute for perceived needs in the relief period without thinking about what is needed for long-term recovery .
