I have recently been home to see family in Ireland and realised I have been observing giving movements for 40 years, since the first Live Aid concert!

Honestly, this is not a story I share when I speak publicly because it is a prickly topic, and I have never shared it before. It wasn't my story to tell, but I think 40 years is a good expiry date. So..

My Uncle is a doctor and was involved in coordinating the humanitarian support that was delivered after the 1985 Live Aid event. Aid was delivered, but the money did not last long due to the tens of millions of people who were starving in Africa. I was gutted when he told me that the money only lasted three days. I still can't believe Live Aid only fed 'some' countries in Africa for three days!

Along with heightened media the aid agencies were also overwhelmed with donations. Most donations were inappropriate and many food goods had expired or were unedible due to the heat. My Uncle told me that his camp was given a.. "soul-crushing amount of lasagna pasta". Yes, my Uncle's region received several containers of lasagna sheets from the west.

My Uncle wanted me to know there are only so many things you can do with lasagna sheets in a drought. He also said it was very hard to look at containers of food people that people cannot eat.

Since then I have been fascinated with well-meaning generous people donating items that are not effective in supporting communities in urgent need. I am now contacted on a regular basis by communities affected by disasters looking for a scalable donation management platform to manage donations that come without warning that impede aid agencies from doing their good work.

Please know my Uncle is a good good man, and did wonderful work in Aid delivery for several decades.. but he still cannot eat pasta.

When disaster strikes, people reallllly want to help. This altruism is beautiful and heart warming, but without coordination, well-meaning donations can and do overwhelm front line services who are trying to help people in urgent need. Imagine losing everything and someone donates 10,000 tins of expired fish, or winter clothes in the summer! I have seen (and heard of) so many items that were given by well meaning donors, that are all now in land fill. Unsolicited Bilateral Donations (UBDs) are items sent to people abroad without being requested. They infamously clog supply chains, burden aid agencies, and often fail to meet the needs of affected communities. At Recovere (Recovery), our mission is to ensure that every act of generosity is both impactful and timely, preventing the unintended consequences of misguided giving.

For a bit of context, unsolicited donations have been a challenge in disaster recovery efforts for a long time. According to research from the Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2013), up to 60% of unsolicited donations are inappropriate for affected communities. Items such as expired food, inappropriate clothing as I mentioned, and even junk goods have been documented as arriving in disaster zones, creating logistical nightmares.

A report by the Centre for Disaster Philanthropy (2018) highlights that unsolicited goods can take weeks or month to sort, store, or dispose of. This is time that could be spent delivering critical supplies to those in need. A vivid example comes from the Haiti Earthquake in 2010, where inappropriate items, including expired medical supplies and mouldy blankets, delayed aid efforts and increased costs.

How Recovere Prevents Unsolicited Donations

Recovere’s platform encourages donors to pledge their new or as-new items rather than shipping them directly into affected areas. When you pledge an item on Recovere, it enters our Virtual Warehouse-a catalogue visible to all registered organisations. Organisations look through our catalogue of generous offers and choose what they need, OR, request what they need for their community. Our donation requests are based on real needs, not assumptions. Nothing is sent until an organisation matches with the item, ensuring every contribution has a purpose, and a new home.

Recovere empowers organisations to share their communities' priorities. Whether it's medical supplies, clothing, or educational materials, registered organisations can specify exactly what they need. Donors can respond to these requests or pledge items they already have, knowing they are contributing meaningfully.

Join the Movement

Recovere is a free tool available to communities worldwide, enabling smarter giving. Let’s work together to ensure that no donation is wasted, no community is overlooked, and every act of generosity truly makes a difference

Why Local Giving Matters

When it comes to helping communities in need, the most impactful solutions often come from people on the ground, using their local knowledge. Local organisations understand their community's challenges, cultural sensitivities, and specific needs better than anyone. That’s why Recovere (Recovery) prioritises empowering these organisations through our platform! I call it "community driven" giving, where we prioritise fulfilling the needs of local organisations, through local businesses.

Recovere’s platform is designed to bridge the gap between donors and local organisations. The ripple effect of local giving extends far beyond the initial act of generosity. It builds stronger communities by fostering a sense of connection and ensures people get the right things and the right time, in the right way.. and helps individuals and their community to move faster to the next phase of their recovery.

How You Can Contribute to Local Giving?

1. Support Organisations Nearby - Use Recovere’s search tools to find What’s Needed in your area and contribute to their needs.
2. Pledge Items - Give Items on Recovere and choose delivery methods that suit your location and capacity.
3. Share Recovere in Your Community - The more organisations we freely support and the more donors giving, the stronger our impact.

Join the Movement!

Pledge an item, contribute funds, or just spread the word!

And sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch 😊

Imagine a world where every local charity and community organisation has exactly what they need to support those in their care. A world where generosity flows seamlessly, and no need goes unmet. Well, seriously, let's try! It is the vision behind Recovere (Recovery), and we need your help to make it a reality.

Recovere is a free, global platform that connects donors with organisations to ensure communities receive the items they truly need. To make the most of this incredible service, we need organisations worldwide to know about it. That’s where you come in.

How You Can Help

1. Tell Local Organisations About Recovere

If there’s a charitable organisation in your community supporting people in need, let them know about Recovere. Once registered here, they can submit requests for essential items and access our Virtual Warehouse to claim items already pledged by generous donors like you.

2. Pledge Items or Explore What’s Needed

Your generosity drives Recovere’s mission. Pledge high-quality new or as-new items through the platform or browse the “What’s Needed” page to directly contribute to specific requests from organisations.

3. Share Recovere With Your Network

Word-of-mouth is powerful! Share Recovere with friends, family, colleagues, and anyone who might have items to give to people affected by crisis. Post about us on social media, tag your favourite local organisations, and encourage them to explore what Recovere offers.

4. Spread the Word in Community Groups

Community spaces like neighbourhood Facebook groups, local churches, or schools are ideal for raising awareness. Let people know Recovere is here to make giving and receiving smarter, easier, and more impactful.

Recovere is built on the belief that kindness can change lives. Every organisation that joins Recovere brings us closer to meeting the needs of their community.

Let’s work together to create a global network of generosity that truly transforms lives.

Together, we can ensure no need goes unmet.

I have two children and every season, when I clean out their closet, I accrue a large pile of new or gently used clothing and school essentials that they no longer require. I sort them in the hallway, and put the clothes into sizes, and take a quick photo on my phone. This is the first step of pledging, or offering, a new or pre-loved item through Recovere. It is very easy, and it really is as simple as snapping a photo on your device!

But what does pledging an item mean? When you pledge a quality item or items you have to give on the Give Items page, it’s added to our Virtual Warehouse, a dynamic catalogue accessible to all registered organisations. When you fill in your donation details, you also specify the delivery method that works best for you. Once the process is complete, your donation becomes immediately available for our network of global charities to view.

Once they see your generous offer and say "Yes, we need that!", Recovere facilitates the connection. We’ll share your name, email, and contact number with the organisation, and you also receive their details. Together, you coordinate the delivery of the donation. This is the exciting part - we connect you to amazing organisations around the world and your item changes lives.

Why do we need photos of your donations? As you know, a picture is worth a thousand words. It is especially true when organisations may not speak English. Honestly, a clear, high-quality photo of your item is best for a successful match. Whether it’s a piece of furniture, an appliance, or clothing, your photos help organisations make informed decisions and ensure your donation finds the perfect fit.

By using Recovere, your donation ensures that organisations can focus on supporting their communities rather than dealing with logistical hurdles or unsuitable items. Through your generosity, you’re offering more than just material goods—you’re giving hope, dignity, and meaningful support to those in need.

Are you ready to pledge an Item?

Visit the Give Items page today and list your donation. It only takes a few minutes to upload your item and a photo, but the impact can last a lifetime.

In moments of disaster, one of the most remarkable things to witness is the world’s overwhelming response to help those in need. People from every corner of the globe, inspired by the stories they see and hear, come together to offer what they can. Giving is an act of pure humanity, a way of saying, “We’re here for you,” even from thousands of miles away.

The media plays a very powerful role in this collective compassion. Devastating images and stories of resilience shine a light on communities in crisis and those who have been affected. Whether it’s a family rebuilding after a wildfire or children finding hope amid the rubble of an earthquake, these glimpses into people’s lives move us to act... and give.

We want to give! We need to give, "these people have lost EVERYTHING". But trust me, it is at times like these we need to find out exactly what people need, not what we think they need.

I recall this photo was taken by a friend who was a Red Cross Volunteer after a catastrophic tropical cyclone in North Queensland. After the news crew arrived, unfortunately so did trucks from the interstate with random used items with no known delivery address, just the towns name and "recovery center".

Through our platform, we help donors and organisations work together to make every donation count. By giving what’s needed, we can channel your compassion into support that makes a lasting difference.

Whether it’s donating a beloved item, contributing funds, or volunteering time, every action matters. But giving becomes even more impactful when it’s guided by awareness. By aligning generosity with what communities truly need, we can provide timely, thoughtful support that empowers recovery.

Juliettex