Weird Tsunami donations

Valhall pointed out in another thread that people were donating things like hair dryers to the victims of the Asian Tsunami. (link)

It turns out that's not the only weird things being donated.

They are recieving winter jackets, expired cans of salmon, winter tents, thong panties, soccer cleats, boots and silver evening shoes with 4-inch heels and even Viagra.

bostonherald
Most of these unusable supplies are from individual donors, small overseas charities or private companies. Others were from Sri Lankans who seemed to have cleared out their closets.
The larger aid agencies conduct surveys before sending aid, or link up with local non-governmental groups to assess needs.
``We don't have such problems as we don't accept any stuff that the people don't need,'' said Charles Blake of the International Committee of the Red Cross, pointing to much-needed hygiene kits and sleeping mats.
Though Sri Lankans laud donors for their good intentions, it appeared some suppliers didn't think before sending a shipment.
R. Buddadasa, a state official handling relief in Galle, said milk from the Middle East and Austria was held back because of worries it would spoil. Eighteen boxes, each containing 100 baby bottles, also were not sent to refugees due to the lack of sterilization facilities in the camps.
But clothes are the real problem. Keerthi de Soysa held her head as a truck unloaded seven cardboard boxes full of clothing at a makeshift camp in Balapitiya.
``Oh no! More clothes,'' she said. ``We're not beggars. We don't need these hand-me-downs.''
The new arrivals will likely end up on a heap in the compound where refugees cook over open fires and use garments as pot holders.

It's great that people felt a need to donate but what were they thinking when they sent things like high heeled shoes to Tsunami victims?

You'd be surprised..Those people would appreciate anything, including 4 inch high heeled sneakers right about now. May not be the most practical thing to send but someone out there will surely appreciate it.

i think everything can be utilized in an emergency,although it does sound a bit odd?....people walking round in 4 inch heels on viagra whilst recovering from the worlds largest ever natural disaster...not to make a joke of this awful tragedy but its nice that this is a real show of peoples genourosity even though the implications do seem almost comical.

Originally posted by AceOfBase
It's great that people felt a need to donate but what were they thinking when they sent things like high heeled shoes to Tsunami victims?

If you haven't noticed human is pretty incapable to thinking and they would surely send ice cube machines to inuits and heaters to Sahara!

Originally posted by E_T

Originally posted by AceOfBase
It's great that people felt a need to donate but what were they thinking when they sent things like high heeled shoes to Tsunami victims?

If you haven't noticed human is pretty incapable to thinking and they would surely send ice cube machines to inuits and heaters to Sahara!

the eskimos have to warm up their igloos some how. what better way than ice cubes.

Couldnt they sell the stuff they dont wont on Ebay?

If they dont want some of the stuff, i'll have it and i'll make myself a little shop on ebay and buy myself a new car?

Yea sure the stories you read are coming from people who have never needed a thing in there life .To understand being Poor or in a desater you must go through it.
I am poor but luckly I do have a house .If i lived over there were EVERY home was WIPED out by a giant wave and you send me BAGS and bags of clothing after I take what i can ware i start sowing the rest toghter into TENTS. High heals not a problem just saw the heal off .
now I must admit the vigra is funny but even that (Could )? be used for a practical perpas .Would probly work on animals and we could get our goats breading faster mabby. Its worth a try cant hert.
Anything can be turned into something you can use given enough immangation.
Ps Water will not go through the cloth if its at a step enough angel like (A) and of corse im sure theres plently of nilon in thous bags.

I'm sure those items probably never even made it to the tsunami zone. Would cost too much to transport. That stuff, I'm sure ended up where it probably should have gone in the first place - the garbage heap. After all, it was given with as much thought as you would give to your garbage. The thinking was, one man's garbage is another man's treasure.

Now, food (not expired), medicine, blankets, diapers, feminine hygiene products, water. Now you're talking thoughtful giving.