Where has the money I donated for the Valencians gone?

“How is it possible that with everything donated, there are people in Valencia who have nowhere to live or what to eat?” “They need to explain to me where the money from so many donations is… I have many friends affected and so far no one has seen a euro.” “Where are the donations? Who controls the money? Will it get lost along the way?” These are some messages from users of the the enormous amount raised in a wave of solidarity unprecedented in the history of Spain.

This newspaper has asked the main NGOs what amount they have collected in the campaigns they have launched and how that money is being used or is planned to be used. Of the 84 million euros that the Red Cross has received to the 42.8 from Cáritas, the 100 million that the Amancio Ortega Foundation has distributed or to what has been achieved in hundreds of campaigns launched by individuals on social media platforms. crowfunding like Gofundme.

Through this means, for example, Violeta Ferrer, a 21-year-old student, has received almost 500,000 euros for the victims. David Aliagas, 24 years old, entrepreneur and growth manager (responsible for growth) has convinced thousands of young people to donate those that would cost you a drink and has raised 300,000 euros. Violeta and David are analyzing which group to transfer the amount to so that it reaches affected individuals and companies. Another initiative to benefit El Refugio de María and other animal shelters already has 65,000 euros. The Sedajazz music school, 31,000. The claim of the couple formed by Alejandro and María Laura, Peruvian artists with a house in Paiporta, already amounts to 43,000 euros. Iván Alemany, quadriplegic, who he lost his adapted car in the DANA35,600. “Help a family with four children from Catarroja”, 18,000 euros.

Red Cross, the institution that has received the most donations, breaks down the 84 million collected as follows: 48 million individuals35 from companies and one from the State administration. With this, the Red Cross explains, a Response Plan has been launched that will be developed in three years and in three phases: immediate response phase, recovery phase and strengthening and resilience phase. To date and within the immediate response phase, they detail, it has offered 216,000 assistshoused nearly 4,000 people in shelters and delivered 33,000 hygiene kits. They have mobilized 4,800 volunteers for DANA, about 800 a day.

“The next steps to follow in the immediate future include the delivery of necessary items, economic deliveries (wallet cards) and psychosocial care, with a goal of reach approximately 60,000 people“, they explain. The second phase, recovery, will include unemployment aid and support for businesses. The budget for the first phases is 20 million euros. The third, “strengthening and resilience”, will focus on “actions of education and awareness” in the face of emergencies such as DANA, the “activation of early warning mechanisms: family emergency plans, response training, drills and provision of first response kits” and in the “reinforcement of institutional capacities in relief work”.

Caritasfor its part, the second with the most donations, has managed to collect so far 42.8 million euros, of which almost 13 million have been raised by Cáritas Valencia. “In four weeks, the donations are approaching the sum obtained during the seven months that the campaign for the Covid-19 health crisis was open, which raised a total of 65 million euros,” Cáritas highlights the magnitude. of solidarity with Valencia.

This same week, they explain, a team has traveled to Valencia to evaluate how to use the funds. “We are dedicated to serving the most disadvantaged people, those who do not have access to public aid, for example. And we must take into account that parishes have lost many records and we must locate those people again and see what situation they are in so that help reaches those who really need it,” they say. Its delegation in Valencia has already distributed 1.5 million euros to the teams of 26 affected parish Caritas.

From the Valencia Food Bank they convey that they have received 5.74 million kilos of productsof which they have distributed 3.08 million. 40% of its stock is water, 30% hygiene and cleaning products, 20% food and 10% clothing.

The 100 million euros donated by the Amancio Ortega Foundation They are already in the coffers of the 40 town councils to whom it has been allocated: 38 Valencians plus Letur (Albacete) and Mira (Cuenca). The instructions they have in the town councils, the Foundation explains, is that 3,000, 6,000 or 10,000 euros – the maximum – be allocated to affected individuals depending on the severity of their situation. The amounts distributed will then be audited.

“From Valencia to Valencia” It is an initiative led by Michelin star chefs Ricard Camarena, Begona Rodrigo and Quique Dacostawho, in collaboration with the Valencian Business Association, have mobilized the main Spanish and world chefs to organize simultaneous dinners with which they will raise funds this December 13.

The Horta Sud Foundation – the name of the most affected region – has obtained 175,000 euros through Gofundme that will be allocated to affected associations: there are 2,000 in the region, 1,000 in ground zero.

And we must mention the campaign of the family of the Venezuelan Lourdes, who died in DANA along with her three-month-old daughter, leaving two other children of 10 and 12 years old orphaned. He grandfather of the minors has moved from Venezuela to serve them and launched a request on Gofundme to be able to rent an apartment in which to settle with them. Once he had obtained the 16,000 euros he needed, he closed it. “They are already installed in Valencia,” says a friend of the family, “but we have had to look at many apartments because no one wanted to rent to an undocumented person with two children.”