04/10/2015
How to distribute donations:
1. If you have never done it, contact the coordinator on the spot or someone who has done it before.
2. If the spot has a storage area already, it might be the best to put donations there, and distribute it afterwards with the help of volunteers who are already at the site for some time.
If there is no coordinator yet or storage area:
3. Always create a line for refugees, tell them the word "Saf" many times, which means "line". They will create a line and it will be much easier. If you have lots of stuff and lot of refugees, create a counter from something, in an area which is a corner, or has only one or 2 entrance.
3. It sounds obvious, but it helps a lot if you keep donations in physical order and in a system. If many people come, and you have not enough time, you will end up in a mess trying to find something for long times.
4. It is VERY important for clothes to be packed by size, if they are for man/women/children. In fact you should always ask people to give it that way, or you need to sort them. Also keep them in order, and tell refugees to do so, when they are sorting for themselves. If you do not do it that way clothes might be left on the ground in mess, getting dirty and ending up in trash!
5. For shoes: always connect the pairs together with a tape or something else (but not the shoelace), if you do not do it that way the shoes will be unpaired in a mess, and end up in the trash (if you have lots of them).
6.. If you are giving out blankets, create a point where blankets can be given back when they leave. Always tell them to give back the blankets to that point in the morning if they leave, otherwise blankets will be in the trash in a few days!
If you have an idea how to do something better, please always ask or tell to the coordinator/police so that they know about it. It might be an idea that helps, but if they do not know about it, it might cause trouble. It is completely understandable, that if you travelled there to volunteer, you want to help as much as you can, and see the refugees being thankful. There are only a few things to keep in mind and then it is one of the most rewarding thing to do. Also, being part of a volunteer group can be just as rewarding or challenging then any other relationship. It is best to find those people with whome you enjoy volunteering and work together well.
