what is ‘The Aid Shop’?
We used to operate from a warehouse in the UK. We loved bringing the community together to donate exactly what was needed: clothes, shelter items, baby supplies, wheelchairs, basic medical supplies, toiletries, even sports equipment. But the manpower, cost, time, and delays involved were not sustainable. Then Brexit and Covid regulations made things harder still, driving up the cost and complexity of our traditional aid deliveries, while the need was as great as ever.
We knew there had to be a better way.
After a successful online campaign to get aid to Moria Camp in Greece following a devastating fire, we set up an online aid shop to let people buy aid directly for those who need it most via an popular online shopping platform’s wishlist.
Due to its success, we launched The Aid Shop via our own website, enabling us to work anywhere in the world, immediately.
We are either on the ground ourselves distributing the aid or evacuating individuals to safety, or where necessary we work with charity partners, and where possible, fund the wages of local people who buy and distribute aid locally. This shifts the focus from reliance to empowerment, creating jobs and investing directly into local economies.
Wherever possible, we source items as locally as we can. After a disaster, local economies often have little chance to recover or replenish themselves if aid relies on traditional shipping from external sources for too long, this can actually suppress a community's ability to regenerate and rebuild. By buying locally, we do our best to create jobs and reinvest in the infrastructure that already exists on the ground, rather than bypassing it.
This approach also means we can respond quickly in emergencies, save money on shipping, customs, and storage — costs that can otherwise run on indefinitely — and keep you in control of exactly where your money goes and how it's spent.
How it works
1.
Browse the shop and add your chosen items to your basket, then complete the purchase just like you would any other e-commerce store.
2.
Via our charity partners, we fund the wages of local distributors, who buy the items locally. This system allows us to help struggling economies, and respond to emergencies quickly.
3.
We update the items regularly to ensure we are always getting the most urgent items to those in need.
Where we work
We work in Ukraine, Gaza, Nigeria, Jordan, Turkey, & Syria — operating directly in the country where the crisis, war or natural disaster is, or in the neighbouring nation. This lets us streamline operations to reach people where they actually are, rather than where they would otherwise be forced to travel to in a dangerous journey if help doesn't meet them first. We send our partner teams a "shopping list" as required, and the items then can be purchased and distributed immediately.
What can I buy?
We’re in constant contact with our local teams who let us know which items are more urgently required. Right now, water and baby items are most in need, along with mosquito nets.
Distribution
In terms of distribution, the ‘priority list’ can vary dependent on location and current circumstances. However, when distributing the aid, ordinarily, orphaned children take priority, followed by widowed families, the elderly and those with disabilities. Our partners conduct regular needs assessments to ensure that those with the greatest need are always serviced first.
Impact
The structure of the online aid shop means that we’re able to purchase and distribute the aid almost immediately, on an ongoing basis. The impact has already been huge.
Our partners in each location are doing a fantastic job of getting the aid to those who need it most. And, by purchasing the aid locally, local economies are benefitting too.
Make a donation.
With your donations, we were able to send 100 food boxes to vulnerable families in Syria. Will you help pay the wages of the refugees we’ve hired to distribute it?