{"id":1649,"date":"2011-05-27T11:41:35","date_gmt":"2011-05-27T15:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/cwr\/?p=1649"},"modified":"2011-06-07T11:26:04","modified_gmt":"2011-06-07T15:26:04","slug":"best-ways-to-support-disaster-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/cwr\/2011\/05\/best-ways-to-support-disaster-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Ways to Support Disaster Response"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>When a disaster strikes many people want to help.\u00a0 But, what is the best way to help? Sometimes our good intentions to help those in other countries can do more harm than good.\u00a0 The list below will make you better able to make thoughtful decisions about how to best support disaster relief.<\/p>\n

1. Find a trustworthy, reputable relief organization to donate to<\/h3>\n

Professional humanitarian aid organizations are able respond quickly to the urgent needs because of financial gifts. Your gift will be an important part in responding to the emergency needs of the most vulnerable \u00a0Covenant World Relief is the Covenant Church\u2019s response to disasters in the world. CWR works with local and international partners who have expertise and experience in disaster response. CWR has been responding effectively and efficiently to disasters around the world for over sixty years.<\/p>\n

2. Cash donations do make a difference<\/h3>\n

Cash donations can be used immediately to purchase critically needed items. If at all possible, these items will be purchased in the affected country in order to support the local economy. Experienced organizations will be able to get aid to the afflicted more quickly because they have experience in getting items through customs, avoiding duplication and identifying those most in need. You can trust that at least 90% of your donation to Covenant World Relief will be used for disaster response.<\/p>\n

3. Pray. Pray. Pray.<\/h3>\n

Pray for those who have been affected and for the aid workers. Pray for those who have lost loved ones. Pray for the survivors who are suffering. Pray with others\u2014your family, your church.<\/p>\n

4. Going to the disaster zone probably isn\u2019t the best way to help<\/h3>\n

We all like to serve hands-on, but disaster response is a highly technical and sensitive effort. Professionals with specialized skills and experience in disaster situations overseas are best suited to respond. All too often, volunteers can do more harm than good and consume critical resources.<\/p>\n

5. Please don\u2019t start collecting items (blankets, shoes, diapers) unless you have been asked to do so by a reputable agency<\/h3>\n

Shipping costs, sorting, packing, unpacking, sorting again, and distributing\u2014all of these things take time and precious resources. Many aid groups will not accept any used items anyway. Cash gifts are the best, most efficient way to help organizations provide the needed supplies quickly and purchase them near the disaster zone. In addition, your cash gifts can help organizations replenish their stock in order to be prepared for future disasters.<\/p>\n

6. Remember, people are not helpless in the face of disaster<\/h3>\n

We believe that God has made people in His image. This does not change after a disaster. People often show a great deal of inner strength and resourcefulness when facing tragedy. Outside support and emergency aid are needed, but local people are not simply helpless victims. Local people are the best at knowing the unique context (culture, language, needs) of their own community and are therefore best able to respond. The role of those from the outside is usually to empower and build the capacity of the local community to respond. Remember to never do for people what they are capable of doing for themselves.<\/p>\n

Adapted from a World Vision document<\/em><\/p>\n

Report This Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When a disaster strikes many people want to help.\u00a0 But, what is the best way to help? Sometimes our good intentions to help those in other countries can do more harm than good.\u00a0 The list below will make you better able to make thoughtful decisions about how to best support disaster relief. 1. Find a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[278],"tags":[281],"class_list":["post-1649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-disaster-relief","tag-resources"],"yoast_head":"\nBest Ways to Support Disaster Response - CWR Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/cwr\/2011\/05\/best-ways-to-support-disaster-response\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Best Ways to Support Disaster Response - CWR Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When a disaster strikes many people want to help.\u00a0 But, what is the best way to help? 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