DANA has triggered the solidarity of the Spanish people, committed to helping all those who have been affected by the catastrophic consequences it has left in its wake in different areas of the national territory through all types of donations. But how can they be done safely without falling into scams?
The catastrophic DANA that has hit our country in recent days has promoted a feeling of solidarity among many Spanish families, even in unaffected areas. Residents of these areas have also looked for ways to help those affected through different donation options.
Unfortunately, this solidarity It has not reached the entire population. And, as it could not be otherwise, we still need to take extreme precautions to guarantee that the donation we want to make reaches its destination without the risk of any external intermediary ends up keeping our money. But what do we have to look at?
The most efficient, financial donations
From Loyalty Foundation They point out that the most efficient thing is for us to make financial contributions. Although we can also donate in kind all types of necessary goods, such as the material to continue cleaning the areas: masks, gloves, wellies, shovels… However, before making these donations in kind, the recommendation of this organization is that Let’s ask the different NGOs if they accept this type of donations.
On their website we can also find the different accredited NGOs, such as Casa Caridad Valencia or FESBAL, for example, and specialized organizations, such as the Red Cross or Caritas Valencia. In these last two cases, they have teams deployed in the affected areas, providing different help services on the ground.
One of the tips that the Foundation offers is that we make sure that the NGO to which we donate has experience in the field in which it works with the objective of contributing to the efficient use of funds. Furthermore, as donors we have the obligation to demand the same conditions than in any other electronic transaction, such as privacy or data protection.
What you should never do
One of the main failures What we may encounter if we are not used to making this type of transfers is not contrasting who is behind the social project. We can consult their website or their social networks to have extra information about the use that will be made of our money. Furthermore, the same organization mentioned recommends that we do not make online donations in the name of an individual, but rather that we do so through NGOs.
On social networks we have read testimonies from people who claim that they are encountering people who pose as staff from NGOs such as the Red Cross asking for cash. However, as they point out in Europa Press, these organizations are not asking for cash donations nor are they going to the homes of affected people or nearby areas. Instead, the usual donation methods have been maintained, such as their website or through BIZUM. So if someone identifies themselves as an NGO worker and comes to ask us for money, it is a scam and, therefore, we should not make any donation.
It is also advisable to follow the evolution of the situation and remain attentive to the social networks of the main NGOs, since the needs on the ground may change and, in this way, we will ensure that we are providing the most effective donation to meet the demands of all types of scenarios.
