Sandra Wyszyńska started a fundraising campaign in Sandefjord, through the organization Coolture when the war in Ukraine broke out on 24 February.
She wanted to contribute by collecting and sending the necessary equipment and food to those affected by the war.
There are many who have contributed by delivering necessary things. She has received a lot of dry food, diapers, hygiene items and dope paper, among other things.
But there have also been many who have used the fundraising campaign as an opportunity to throw away what they no longer need, according to Wyszyńska.
It makes her despair.
– For example, we have received blankets that smelled of mold and dirty shoes that smelled so bad that I had to keep them outside the door, she tells TV 2.
– Disrespectful
But the worst she has gotten in, she thinks is shocking.
– SHOCKED: Sandra Wyszyńska thinks it is shocking that people hand in rubbish to the fundraising campaign for refugees from Ukraine. Photo: Private
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– There are some who have handed in used q-tips, used diapers and half-eaten crispbread. It’s so disrespectful, she despairs.
Wyszyńska spends a lot of time sorting everything that comes in. That she has to spend extra time throwing so many things, she thinks is stupid.
It was Sandefjords Blad who first mentioned the case.
– I do this voluntarily. The drivers who drive everything from Norway to Poland also spend a lot of time and money. I think it is disrespectful to the work we do, that people use us as a recycling station and a rubbish bin.
So far, Wyszyńska has had to throw away five large bags of rubbish.
She has a roommate who helps, something she is happy about. She finds it difficult to answer why she thinks people give away rubbish to the fundraising campaign.
– People may think that if they have something to contribute, then it is better than nothing. And it’s very nice that people want to contribute, but we do not need rubbish. Then it is better to give a sum of money to an organization, she says and adds:
– It is important that people give away things they would have received even if they were in the same situation.
– FLIGHTS: Over three million people have fled Ukraine. Many people only carry a bag with things from their homes. People all over the world are now collecting necessary things for the refugees. Photo: Visar Kryeziu / AP Photo
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Wyszyńska emphasizes that she is grateful for all the nice and necessary things she has received.
– It is nice to see that so many will contribute. There are several who have bought completely new things that we send to Poland, she says.
– Very unfortunate
The organization Fretex has on behalf of the Salvation Army also collected clothes and equipment for the refugees from Ukraine.
Kristin Hareide, director of the environment at Fretex, says that they have also seen people give rubbish. She finds it sad that people misunderstand the use of the collection.
– SIN: Kristin Hareide in Fretex thinks it’s a shame that people give away rubbish to the fundraising campaigns. Photo: Morten Bendiksen
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– It is meant to go to a good cause, and when you do something like that, it destroys the value of what is given. It is very unfortunate, she says.
– But we are fortunately in the situation that we see little of it, she adds.
Fretex has its own list of what they are looking for. Hareide encourages other organizations, which work with fundraising for the refugees, to have the same.
– Then you sharpen the collection in relation to the needs that are today.
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