Category:0 * FIRST RESPONSE ITEMS
Notes: This category is to group items that are most critical in the first days of a disaster.
If you are interested in Donating Relief Items/Supplies PLEASE READ ON...
The best way to help emergency organizations is financial donations. Money is easier to manage than physical donations.
If you still feel a need to gather, PLEASE DO NOT GATHER CLOTHES UNLESS *SPECIFICALLY ASKED* BY A *SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION* IN THE DISASTER ZONE TO DO SO.
Please only gather things that are easily used by "any" disaster, and WARN DONORS that things gathered may not be used for THIS disaster, but may be routed to wherever they are needed the most.
Here is our list of items that we have found are easily moved to another disaster, if there are too many gathered.
PLEASE CATEGORIZE! Organize and FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. It allows for faster distribution.
BOXED, TAPED, & LABELED on top and all sides. Cross out unrelated or confusing labeling.
Notes: In general, we encourage "spontaneous volunteers": "DON'T DO ANYTHING" until you speak to someone in the disaster zone that is managing supplies. The zone may be swamped by supplies, even in the early days. Sending more supplies to a location that already has too much is worse than sending nothing at all, because the disaster relief workers (that are already working 12 hours/day) then have to deal with sorting it and managing it.
ALWAYS Make Sure you HAVE A DESTINATION for whatever it is that you are gathering.
ALWAYS check OFTEN to make sure you're still gathering the right stuff. Needs change hourly sometimes.
If you just can't wait to gather, then the below listed items are the ONLY items to be gathered, if you have not made contact yet in the disaster zone.
NOTE: IF YOU HAVE NOT ARRANGED FOR A DESTINATION THAT IS WILLING/ABLE TO ACCEPT *USED* ITEMS (BLANKETS, ETC), THEN ALL ITEMS GATHERED AND SHIPPED ***MUST*** BE NEW AND IN THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
The items listed below (in this First Response category) are almost always needed. And are easily stockpiled for future disasters. Do NOT gather clothes or other items without making contact with the disaster relief site FIRST. And do not gather anything without having a secondary and terciary destination. We have destinations for these kits, if you can't find one. Terra: 978 266 2778, terraf @ compuserve dot com
PLEASE follow these instructions.
The KITS (shown below) are the focus of "non-directed" gathering because they are what the large relief orgs will accept in their warehouses.
The kits were designed primarily by UMCOR with input from other relief groups. These goups have been doing disaster relief for decades. PLEASE heed their direction...
UMCOR kit instructions for volunteer gathering groups:
Another handy kit guide is at:
Here is a handy list, or see below for specific items and the locations that need them.
NON-PERISHABLE FOOD (But NO EXPIRED FOOD!!!)
BABY ITEMS
OTHER ITEMS:
Pack of sterno
Bug Spray
LINENS (MUST BE NEW OR FRESHLY CLEANED):
Pillows and pillow cases
TOILETRIES (see items below)
PRE-PACKAGED RELIEF ITEMS:
BABY Packs
TOILETRY Packs
Please! DO NOT GATHER CLOTHES!
Items In This Category:
» * KITS, BABY SUPPLY KITS, NEW Items ONLY » * KITS, BEDDING KITS, NEW Items ONLY » * KITS, BEDDING KITS, NEW or Gently Used Items » * KITS, CLEANING/CLEAN UP KITS » * KITS, COMFORT KITS » * KITS, COOKING KITS » * KITS, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KITS » * KITS, FOOD KITS » * KITS, HEALTH KITS » * KITS, HOUSEHOLD KITS » * KITS, HURRICANE SURVIVAL KITS (For Disabled/Handicapped) » * KITS, HYGIENE KITS » * KITS, KITCHEN SETS » * KITS, LAYETTE KITS, NEW Items ONLY » * KITS, MEDICAL KITS » * KITS, MUCK-OUT, FLOOD KITS » * KITS, REHYDRATION KITS » * KITS, SANITATION KITS » * KITS, SCHOOL BAG KITS, NEW Items ONLY » * KITS, SEWING KITS » * KITS, SHELTER KITS » * KITS, TOILETRY KIT w/Towel » * KITS, TOILETRY/COMFORT KIT, NEW Items ONLY » * KITS, TOOL KITS » Appliances, Small, Refrigerator (Dorm/Apt. Size) » Baby, Baby Formula » Baby, Baby Wipes » Bags, Suitcases » Batteries, Household * (ANY/ALL Types/Sizes) » Buckets * (ANY/ALL Types) » Bungee Cords » Camping Gear * (ANY/ALL Types) » Camping Gear, Camp Stove » Camping Gear, Camping Coffee Pots » Camping Gear, Campstove Fuel » Camping Gear, Cook Set » Camping Gear, Rain Suits » Camping Gear, Sleeping Bags * (ANY/ALL Types) New or Gently Used/CLEAN » Camping Supplies, Tents » Camping, Camp Sites * (ANY/ALL Types of Camping Services/Sites) » Camping, Supplies, Lighting, Lanterns, LED » Chain Saw, Supplies, Bar Oil » CHOLERA, Services, CTC (Cholera Treatment Center) Set Up » Cleaning, Cleaner, Bleach, Chlorine Bleach (Clorox) » Cleaning, Supplies * (ANY/ALL Types) » Cleaning, Supplies, Brushes, Scrub Brushes » Cleaning, Supplies, Cleaning Kits, New or Gently Used Items » Cleanup, Equipment, Brooms * (ANY/ALL Types) » Communications, Equipment * (ANY/ALL Types) » Communications, Equipment, Bullhorn » Communications, Equipment, PA System » Communications, Equipment, Radio, Ham Radio » Communications, Equipment, Radio, Walkie Talkie / Handset Radio » Communications, Equipment, Satellite * (ANY/ALL Types) » Communications, Megaphones » Compressor » Cones, Traffic Cones » Cooler, Hot/Cold Packs for use in Coolers & for First Aid » Cream, Skin Cream (see also "Lotion") » Diapers * (ANY/ALL Types/Sizes) » Distribution, Cleaning/Clean Up Supplies (Post Disaster) » Distribution, Communication Tools & Equipment » Distribution, Disaster Relief Supplies » Electronics, Power, Extension Cords * (ANY/ALL Types) » First Responder, International » First Response Supplies/Items * (ANY/ALL Types) » First Response Teams, Volunteer » First Response, Rescue, Emergency Rescue Equipment * (ANY/ALL Types) » Flashlights » FLOOD BUCKETS, NEW Items ONLY » Food * (ANY/ALL Types) » Food Distribution, Food Boxes, Emergency Food Boxes * (ANY/ALL Types) » Food, Baby Food * (ANY/ALL Types) » Food, Canned ** (ANY/ALL Types) » Food, Dry, * Dry Food Goods (ANY/ALL Types) » Food, Medical, Canned, Ensure » Food, Medical, Diabetic Food » Food, Non-Perishable Food * (ANY/ALL Types of Canned, Dry, Drinks, Snacks) » Fuel, * (ANY/ALL Types) » Furniture, Beds, Cots » Furniture, Chairs, Folding Chairs » Furniture, Chairs, Stacking, Adult Chairs » Furniture, Table, Folding Table » Garbage/Trash Bags * (ANY/ALL Types of Garbage Bags or Trash Bags) » Garbage/Trash Bags, Plastic Lawn/Leaf » Garbage/Trash Bags, Plastic, Drum Liners (Heavy Duty, Contractor Bags) » Garbage/Trash Bags, Plastic, Large, Heavy Duty Trash Bags » Garbage/Trash Can * (ANY/ALL Types/Sizes) » Garbage/Trash Can, 40 gal. » Generators * (ANY/ALL Types) » Gloves, Rubber * (ANY/ALL Types) » Hazmat Suits
» Heavy Equipment, Forklift » Hotline, National Volunteer Referral Hotlines » Household, Candles » Housing, Portable Housing Units » HURRICANE TOMAS, Supplies » Hygiene, Depends Undergarments » Hygiene, Feminine Hygiene, Sanitary Napkins / Pads » Hygiene, Feminine Hygiene, Tampons » Ice » Ice Chest, Icechest (Cooler) » Ice Chest, Icechest (High Density/IGLOO Cooler) » Information Resource, Disaster Resources for Disaster Responders » Jerrycans (Fuel/Water Container) » Kitchen, Cooking Equipment, Pots & Pans » Kitchen, Cooking, Can Openers » Kitchen, Cooking, Cookware * (ALL/ANY Type of Cookware) » Kitchen, Service, Utensils, Eating Utensils » Lighting, Lanterns, Solar Lanterns » Linens, Bath, Towels, NEW ONLY » Linens, Bath, Towels, New or Clean/Gently Used * (ANY/ALL Types) » Linens, Bedding, Blankets * (ANY/ALL Types) » Linens, Bedding, Sheets, Sheet Sets * (ANY/ALL Types, New or Clean/Gently Used) » Masks, Face Masks, N95 (w/Respirator/Cartidges) » Masks, surgical masks, cloth » Meals, On Site Meals Served to First Responders » Medical, Equipment * (ANY/ALL Types) » Medical, Equipment, Recessitator (First Response) » Medical, Equipment, Triage Stations » Medical, Services, Mobile Medical Unit/Clinic » Medical, Supplies, Charcoal » Medical, Supplies, First-Aid, First Aid Kit » Medical, Supplies, Gloves, Disposable, * Gloves, Misc. (ANY/ALL Types) » Medical, Supplies, Hand Sanitizer » Medical, Supplies, Masks, Face Masks, Medical Purposes » Medical, Supplies, Surgery, Surgical Supplies » Mops * (ANY/ALL Types) » Mosquito Nets » OTC, Lip Balm » OTC, Pedialyte » Paper Plates/Plastic Utensils » Paper, Paper Plates (Retail Packages) » Paper, Paper Towels (Rolls) » Paper, Toilet Paper » Paper/plastic Cups (Retail Packages) » Plastic Bags, Baggies, Ziplocs » Plastic Bags, Ziploc Bags, 2 Qt » Plastic Forks/Spoons/Knives » Propane » Rakes * (ANY/ALL Types) » Registry, Personal Evacuation Plans, Online Registry » Repellant, Bug Repellent * (ANY/ALL Types) » Safety Vests » Sandbags » Sanitation, Services, Water Tank Installation » Sanitation, Services, Water Testing » Sanitation, Supplies * (ANY/ALL Types) » Sanitation, Supplies, Water Treatment/Purification/Filtration Supplies/Equipment * (ANY/ALL Types) » Sewing Kit » Shelter, Supplies * (ANY/ALL Types) » Shelter, Supplies, Canopy » Shelter, Supplies, Mats, Sleeping Mats » Shelter, Supplies, Plastic Sheeting » Shelter, Supplies, Tents (For Disaster Survivors) » Shelter, Supplies, Tents, Military Tents » Shelter, Supplies, Umbrellas » Shelter, Supplies, Utensils, Kitchen Utensils » Shelter, Transitional Temporary Shelter (For Disaster Survivors) » Shovels * (ANY/ALL Types) » Shower, Camping, Solar-heated » Showers, Cholera, Disenfecting Shower Station » Soap * (ANY/ALL Types) » Sunscreen, Sunscreen w/Bug Repellant » Support for Named Disaster: 2023 Storm Daniel » Tarps » Tires, Tire Repair Kit » Toiletries, Personal Hygiene Products * (ANY/ALL Types) » Toilets, Portable Toilets » Tools, Bolt Cutters » Tools, Chainsaw * (ANY/ALL Types) » Tools, Torch, Propane Torch » Underwear, All Sizes, NEW Only, * (ANY/ALL Types) » Water, Bottles (8 oz.) » Water, Bottles (Pallets) » Water, Bottles, (In Plastic, Gallons) » Water, Filtered Water » Water, Potable Water » Water, Supplies, Containers » Water, Supplies, Jugs, Large Sized » Water, Supplies, Water Storage Units » Wipes, Antiseptic Wipes » Wipes, Travel Wipes
