How to Pack Relief Goods for the Flood Victims

Manila kind of turned into Atlantis yesterday due to torrential rains caused by an unnamed monsoon (I call it Voldemort). Thousands of people were affected and had to evacuate their homes, so if you’d like to help out by donating relief goods but don’t know what to send, you might find this helpful.

My friend Chary from the HappytoHelp charity group says that “knowing what to donate to relief centers is not an exact science. We give whatever is convenient or accessible but this may not always be appropriate to the needs of a particular community.”

So she gave a really useful list of things you can put together in a Disaster Relief Emergency Box that can meet the needs of a wide range of calamities:

  •  A 25kg sack of rice
  • 50 pcs of canned sardines
  • 50 pcs instant noodles
  • 25 pcs 50g coffee
  • 25 pcs 500g sugar
  • 25 pcs 90g creamer
  • pain relievers/aspirin/anti-diarrhea meds/band aids 
  • toothpaste/toothbrush/soap
  • 2 flashlights with extra batteries

Note: My friend Ana suggests that if you’re giving away cans of anything, stick a couple of can-openers in there too.

Clothes are also good, but please bear in mind that not all clothes are appropriate or welcome. Think practical. 

My other friend Nena of the LBC Foundation says these other non-food items are also always needed:

  • blankets
  • mosquito nets
  • waste bags
  • hygiene kits (bath soap, laundry soap, tissue, sanitary napkins, towels)
  • 10L water containers

Note: The LBC Foundation advises that you NOT drop off relief goods in plastic bags. Use boxes, or for smaller drop-offs “use a blanket, towel or old shirt to tie-up and carry your donations.”

Check Facebook or your other social media feeds for announcements from your friends, villages or schools and alumni associations. Lots of groups are organizing different relief efforts and have need of different things. You can find tons of announcements and calls for help under the Twitter hashtag #reliefph.

You can also find a list and map of places to drop off your donations here. 

There are so many ways to help, and so many people in need. Every little bit counts, so let’s all do our part.

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