PPB April 2018

THE MOST REQUESTED DONATIONS Imagine that you lost everything you owned in a disaster and arrived at a shelter with only the clothes you were wearing and, if you were lucky, a small bag of personal items. What items would be most important to you? Below is a list of necessities most requested after a devastating event based on my personal experience: 1 Personal items: a. Full‑size soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, etc. Do not donate the sample‑size products collected from hotels as the amount in those bottles is not sufficient. b. Feminine products and adult incontinence items c. Baby diapers, wipes, full‑size baby shampoo and lotion, diaper rash balm, over‑the‑counter baby medications, powdered baby formula, etc. d. Toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer e. First aid kits, bandages, wound spray, hydrocortisone cream, triple antibiotic ointment f. Over‑the‑counter medicine: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antihistamine, decongestant, cough syrup g. Mosquito repellant 2 Blankets and pillows. Throws are also great as they can be folded into a blanket or a pillow or used as a place to lie down. 3 Towels, hand towels, wash cloths 4 Cleaning supplies: disinfectant wipes/sprays, cleaning rags, brooms, mops, buckets. Bleach was one of the most requested cleaning supplies because of the overwhelming amount of mold and mildew that occurred after the flooding. 5 Flashlights and batteries of all sizes 6 Power banks to charge smartphones 7 Duct tape, tools, generators, etc. 8 Non‑perishable food items and can openers 9 Bottled water 10 School supplies and children’s activity items such as coloring books, crayons, markers, and puzzles 11 New clothing, school uniforms, new shoes, pajamas, new socks, new underwear, new bras, etc. 12 Insulated and plastic beverage containers 13 Pet supplies including food and food bowls, dog/cat beds, etc. 4 Market the need for volunteers and donations through PPAI, ASI, and all industry service providers that will carry the message to members/subscribers. Social media plays a huge part in spreading the word about what is needed. In the appeal, be sure to include a physical address for the supplier/distributor’s warehouse and an email address. Part Two: Guidelines For Donations “Our industry is very generous and well-meaning,” says Hirsch, “but donations need to adhere to the list of requested items. This is not an opportunity to clear out old samples in your office unless each item is clearly thought out.” This applies to clearing out your clothes closets at home, too. Used clothing is only acceptable when it is received within a day or two after disaster strikes. After that, evacuees are looking to regain a sense of dignity in light of all they may have lost. A few tips about donations: 1 Sort your donations. Keep like items boxed together. For example, do not mix cleaning supplies with toiletries. Box new clothing according to size, gender and life stage (adult, child, baby). When donating apparel samples, refrain from including any apparel with grommets on them. Grommets are usually centered in the upper back area of the garment to purposely keep people from wearing samples. 2 Do not pack new clothing with used clothing. A lot of time was spent sorting new clothing fromused clothing. Most of the used clothing was not used for hurricane victims, but instead was donated to a local organization that offered it to individuals who were being released from social programs to get them started on a new path in life. 3 Label and list. List every item or group of items on the outside of every box and place a packing list inside. 4 Check food expiration dates. Outdated food and baby formula cannot be distributed. Do not donate food products in glass jars or bottles. 5 Order donations online. Many who donated to the Hurricane Harvey relief ordered necessities from large online merchants and had them delivered directly to the warehouse. In most instances, they saved time, and often the shipping costs were free. 6 Notify the warehouse in advance of a shipment. Send an email to the donation coordinator or key contact listing what you are donating along with tracking information so they knowwhat to expect. It helps the operationmovemore efficiently. When crisis strikes, our industry can be better prepared to assist those affected when we have a solid plan in place. Kim Reinecker, MAS, is regional manager, southwest for supplier Starline and lives in Houston, Texas. 24 | APRIL 2018 | INNOVATE