Governments Pledge to Flood Victims

[Gingernuts]

Private Community Initiatives - eg "Shoeboxes of Love" (Cringe....)

Cringeworthy because...?

If you had your house flattened what would you want? A shoebox full of trinkets and toothpaste? Or some cash that you can actually do something with?

I'm with you on that one Squawk. Forget the box, donate 5 bucks to the flood appeal instead.

*edit* not dissing the sentiment behind such an initiative BTW - just think there's more constructive and useful ways of going about it 'tis all.

[A Mum]

Private Community Initiatives - eg "Shoeboxes of Love" (Cringe....)

Cringeworthy because...?

If you had your house flattened what would you want? A shoebox full of trinkets and toothpaste? Or some cash that you can actually do something with?

I'm with you on that one Squawk. Forget the box, donate 5 bucks to the flood appeal instead.

*edit* not dissing the sentiment behind such an initiative BTW - just think there's more constructive and useful ways of going about it 'tis all.

Hmmm - I have mixed feelings about this one...lol.

My sister just helped out in a 'shoebox of love' initiative - but it was aimed at the kids affected by the floods.

Therefore a lot of toys and kids clothes.
Of course marked with the age of the child etc.
They also included letters from the 'giving' children.
I thought that was a great experience all round - one for the giving child and one for the recieving child.
As in that instance I reckon the kids up there recieving a 'present' like that would lift their spirits emmensely.
And something less for the parents to worry about.

[Gingernuts]

Fair points A Mum. I can see how they might deliver some benefits. Okay, I'll soften my stance on that one.

I still have mixed feelings about many of the initiatives going around though. Sometimes it seems they are more about making the givee feel better rather than being of any real benefit to the people in need.

[Jase]

Private Community Initiatives - eg "Shoeboxes of Love" (Cringe....)

Cringeworthy because...?

If you had your house flattened what would you want? A shoebox full of trinkets and toothpaste? Or some cash that you can actually do something with?

I'm with you on that one Squawk. Forget the box, donate 5 bucks to the flood appeal instead.

*edit* not dissing the sentiment behind such an initiative BTW - just think there's more constructive and useful ways of going about it 'tis all.

Fair enough, but I think (from my limited understanding of the Shoeboxes of love aimed at the flood) are for the kids... A lot like the Operation Christmas Child ones...

We have done both and the boxes we have done are aimed at little kids who have lost all the toys etc, and probably don't really understand what is going on... and giving them something to help make them smile and something to cuddle is probably a bit more impacting than throwing a handful of cash in a bucket....

Unfortunately cash doesn't fix everything...

But yes I can also see where you were coming from as well...

I guess its a case of doing the best we can to help in the best way we think possible...

[Q.]

A few points to clarify here:

Firstly, aid is distinct from assistance. 60+ countries have offered assistance. Assistance was initially provided by the Kiwis, but specialist expertise is also likely to be taken up from the UK and the US.

Ahhh, cheers Squawk.

[Footy Chick]

Private Community Initiatives - eg "Shoeboxes of Love" (Cringe....)

Cringeworthy because...?

If you had your house flattened what would you want? A shoebox full of trinkets and toothpaste? Or some cash that you can actually do something with?

I'm with you on that one Squawk. Forget the box, donate 5 bucks to the flood appeal instead.

*edit* not dissing the sentiment behind such an initiative BTW - just think there's more constructive and useful ways of going about it 'tis all.

They're not full of "trinkets"

People are asked to supply essential items and a toy (if for a child)

ie; soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair ties for girls, etc... stuff that people in the most affected areas (lockyer valley and Grantham,e tc) may not even be able to get their hands on yet.

and if it serves its purpose of providing essential items AND bringing a smile to the face of a little kid that's just lost everything, why not?

[Gingernuts]

Fair points A Mum. I can see how they might deliver some benefits. Okay, I'll soften my stance on that one.

I still have mixed feelings about many of the initiatives going around though. Sometimes it seems they are more about making the givee feel better rather than being of any real benefit to the people in need.

See above comments FC. A Mum did talk me around a bit.

I didn't realise they were specifically for children TBH, and done in such a targeted manner.

Still - I can see how they work really well for 3rd world countries, but we're not talking about the jungles of Bangladesh here are we??

Surely the govt is on top of things re distributing essentials? The disaster response seems to be very organised and spot on from what I have seen.

Dunno, just my opinion and in the end I don't know what the real situation is up there from my current 'desk jockey' position. I certainly don't intend to dilute the goodwill surrounding the disaster nor make light of the situation up there - I apologise if any of my comments have come across that way.

[Squawk]

Private Community Initiatives - eg "Shoeboxes of Love" (Cringe....)

Cringeworthy because...?

I'm speaking from experience here when I say "cringe"

After a big disaster, there is a natural tendency for people to want to help out in any way they can. That's great and should be supported. However, it's also about timing and need. In the immediate aftermath, the needs of affected communities are unclear. Governments using cash appeals because that is what the best initial means of assistance is - cash. Donated goods actually create a lot of headaches. Often, junk is donated. After the Victorian bushfires, no less than a pallet of g-strings were donated, and a pallet of lipsticks. After the Pt Lincoln bushfires (Wangarry I mean) - there was a similar surplus of inappropriate donations. All such donations have to be sorted, transported, stored and so forth, and all at a human and/or financial cost. Past experience in major disasters worldwide is also that recovery is faster for individuals if they can contribute to restoring their own lives in their own way. For example, it's nice to buy a new shirt you like that is exclusively yours, rather than wearing a donated shirt.

So "cringe" refers to the difficult connundrum of people wanting to help (in this case, with shoeboxes of love), but in actual fact the need or the timing of such donations is such that it's better for everyone in the aftermath for the emphasis of support o be either via cash donation, or via approved volunteering arranangements.

[Footy Chick]

Fair points A Mum. I can see how they might deliver some benefits. Okay, I'll soften my stance on that one.

I still have mixed feelings about many of the initiatives going around though. Sometimes it seems they are more about making the givee feel better rather than being of any real benefit to the people in need.

See above comments FC. A Mum did talk me around a bit.

I didn't realise they were specifically for children TBH, and done in such a targeted manner.

Still - I can see how they work really well for 3rd world countries, but we're not talking about the jungles of Bangladesh here are we??

Surely the govt is on top of things re distributing essentials? The disaster response seems to be very organised and spot on from what I have seen.

Dunno, just my opinion and in the end I don't know what the real situation is up there from my current 'desk jockey' position. I certainly don't intend to dilute the goodwill surrounding the disaster nor make light of the situation up there - I apologise if any of my comments have come across that way.

I believe the drops or emergency supplies being sent is mainly essential food items and toilet paper.

i agree with Squawk in that other donated goods (ie: clothes) are a waste of time initally because they create a logistical nightmare and for the best part which is why I don't do it as a rule, I prefer to give money but if a kid gets a kick out of a new skipping rope, some coloured pencils or a pack of cards and some shampoo and stuff to get them through until aid comes in then I'm happy to give that too..

[Bat Pad]

There's some crap posted at times and the start of this thread is a good example.

The Government will finish up spending billions fixing things up in Queensland.

Where does this sort of right-wing nonsense start from?

I agree the initial post is incorrect. But I fail to see how complaining how little money is being spent is Right-Wing. Thought that would be the opposite.

[Hondo]

There's some crap posted at times and the start of this thread is a good example.

The Government will finish up spending billions fixing things up in Queensland.

Where does this sort of right-wing nonsense start from?

I agree the initial post is incorrect. But I fail to see how complaining how little money is being spent is Right-Wing. Thought that would be the opposite.

I think it's the link back to the foreign aid figures ie, why help the overseas people more than our own. it's a usual right wing sort of view.

This is not directed at you but Penny Wong on the radio today confirmed that they don't know what the final cost of the disaster and the government final financial commitment will be. I don't why people are trying so hard to (1) peg a number on it so early and (2) assume what's been spend or committed so far is the end of it.

[fish]

There's some crap posted at times and the start of this thread is a good example.

The Government will finish up spending billions fixing things up in Queensland.

Where does this sort of right-wing nonsense start from?

I agree the initial post is incorrect. But I fail to see how complaining how little money is being spent is Right-Wing. Thought that would be the opposite.

I think it's the link back to the foreign aid figures ie, why help the overseas people more than our own. it's a usual right wing sort of view.

Exactly Hondo.