Why CASH Donations Help Ecuador Most

In times of emergency, it is heartening to see donations come pouring in to help people in need. While donations like clothes and food can be helpful, the kinds of items donated are often not what are immediately needed.

The brutal truth is that if you want to help Ecuadorians survive, sending cash rather than food and clothing would do more to help. Why?

Cash crosses borders easily.

Cash doesn't need to take up precious transportation resources that could be used to bring in emergency kits like those provided by Oxfam and ShelterBox. 

Cash can be used to buy in bulk.

Local organizations can contract to buy in bulk, seriously bringing down the purchasing costs. Your purchase of ten bags of rice could actually fund many more bags in the hands of locals, like Global Shapers Quito.

Cash can be used in culturally appropriate ways.

You may think that your used coat is a great donation. Ecuadorians living on the coast don't even use raincoats because they make you sweat. An umbrella is often the tool of choice. But how are you to know this? 

You may think bags of quinoa would be appreciated yet the Ecuadorians of the coast don't eat quinoa. Nor brown rice. And many communities are lacking the basic tools for cooking so dried goods can't even be prepared. 

The obvious solution is to let local organizations buy what is most needed. Otherwise donations that will never get used build up in warehouses or, worse yet, are handed out to families that won't know what to do with them.

Cash helps the local economy.

If you send cash, organizations can buy goods here in Ecuador, helping to bring needed dollars into the local economy. And very often, local business are willing to offer discounts when they know the purchased items are going directly to Ecuadorian earthquake assistance. 

Please, if you want to help Coastal Ecuadorians, send cash.

If you would like to learn more about organizations helping out in this time of need, please visit www.NotYourAverageAmerican.com.