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Disaster Relief 101

SGMA Tips for Donating Goods and Services

SGMA provides our members with access to organizations that assist in disaster relief efforts and donations.One of the most challenging areas of coordinating effective disaster/emergency response operations is in assimilating the influx of goods and services donated by concerned companies and individuals. If uncontrolled shipments of donations show up unannounced in the disaster area, they can easily interfere with other ongoing disaster response operations. Disaster relief agencies and organizations, like the American Red Cross, provide assistance to companies and business associations in the management of donor’s capacity and willingness to provide emergency relief services or materials to the areas affected by a nationally declared major disaster or emergency in a time-sensitive manner. Above all, it is necessary to control and direct the flow of donated goods to be sure the needs of disaster victims are being met as effectively as possible.

Emergency Donations and Acceptance Guidelines
Companies interested in donating to disaster relief should review the needs list provided before making a donation:

1. The donated products or services must be critically needed and included in the current situation needs list. These needs lists can be obtained by agencies actively involved in the relief effort. This list may change as the initial situation moves from relief to recovery and restoration stages and as needs are filled. This list must be regularly assessed and updated.
2. The affected community must confirm the necessity of the donations and a secure distribution center or warehouse facility must be identified before products are shipped to specified location. Disaster Relief Agencies/ Organizations When donating your goods and services it is key to send your donations to reputable disaster relief agencies and organizations. Listed below are some legitimate disaster relief organizations your donations can be sent to in case of a natural disaster:
3. The donations must be given through a nonprofit disaster relief organization, donor company, or other nonprofit.
4. Miscellaneous, non-requested products from donor companies, organizations or individuals may not reach the disaster area because of distribution difficulties. This type of donation may be more appropriately given to a local nonprofit organization.
5. It is more efficient to distribute donations when products are prepared in uniform configurations including: Pre-sorted; Cartons clearly labeled; and Palletized.
6. Generally employee or community relief drives collecting previously used personal property such as clothing and household product, do not benefit the affected community and may make it more difficult for critically needed/requested items to reach those in need.
7. Donating companies are usually asked to cover the transportation costs of their donated products. In cases where a company’s products do not meet the list of current needs for a specific disaster relief program, association members can make monetary contributions to cover these costs for companies unable to do so.

Disaster Relief Agencies/ Organizations
When donating your company's goods and services it is key to send your donations to reputable disaster relief agencies and organizations. Listed below are some legitimate disaster relief organizations your donations can be sent to in case of a natural disaster:

* Only accepts brand new items in its original packaging.