In this two-part series, we’ll explore exactly what it takes to collect, sort, pack, ship, deliver, and distribute aid supplies to help refugees around the world.
Every week at LHI’s Humanitarian Aid Warehouse in American Fork, Utah, volunteers help us sort, pack, and fill industrial-sized containers of aid supplies that will ship to refugees in locations around the world as part of our Beyond Borders program. Sounds simple, right? But what really goes into it? How do we get the supplies? How do we even determine what is needed, and where? And how has the COVID-19 pandemic changed daily operations? Read on to find out!
Part 1: Gathering Supplies
Under normal circumstances, preparing an aid shipment begins with research. We investigate places around the world that are currently experiencing a refugee crisis, then present these locations to our partner org, Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD). HHRD then lets us know if they have teams on the ground in those locations, or if they have partner orgs on the ground that can receive and distribute our aid shipments.
LHI investigates places around the world that are currently experiencing a refugee crisis. Why do we often ship aid instead of acquiring it locally? Click here to learn why.
Common aid supplies include personal hygiene items, clothing, and school supplies.
Once we determine a location, we request a list of the most needed supplies for the refugees living there. The list is always different, and knowing what is not needed is just as important as knowing what is. Supplies that aren't really needed can be a hindrance, and they take up valuable container space that could have otherwise been filled with needed items. So from the initial needs list, we create our own list of items that will be feasible for us to collect, pack, and ship. Then we begin sharing our needs list with people just like you through social media and on our website.
Using our needs list as a guide, we also create a list of “kits.” Our kits lists are posted on social media, our website, and other service organization websites, so individuals and groups wanting to help us collect needed aid can do so in the form of service projects. This enables larger numbers of people to get involved, multiplying the impact of their efforts. Businesses, schools, family reunions, church groups, and individuals all come forward to help collect donations and make kits.
Volunteers prepare aid supply kits.
Donated items collected at our drop-off locations all throughout Utah are delivered to our warehouse.
Once the community members have collected items for donation, they contact us to request a drop off location near them (we have more than three dozen drop-off locations throughout Utah). And when a drop-off location has accumulated a carload, truck full, or trailer full, they bring the donations to our warehouse in American Fork, Utah.
Interested in donating aid supplies?
Click here for information about our current needs for donated aid supplies.
Donate Aid Supplies Online.
Individuals everywhere can use our Amazon Wishlist to purchase needed items, and those items will go to our warehouse (we frequently update our wishlists to reflect current needs).
Thanks for reading! Next week, we’ll continue with Part 2: Delivering the Goods. Check back to find out what happens once aid supplies arrive at our warehouse. Be well!
Click here to learn more about supporting our Beyond Borders program.