Reply #14: Keep in mind that when it comes to food, clothes and hosuehold goods [View All]

Nonprofits such as Red Cross and Second Harvest have much more buying power than the average consumer, so it is somewhat more effective to send money.

I don't mean to discourage folks from donating items/food to orgs that take them. There is a much more personal, tangible quality in that and it helps people feel like they are doing something specific. It is also good for people with kids because the kids can see how they are helping and they can understand it better.

At my food bank, for example, we get really good deals on large quantities of food from a few distributors, so money is more valuable than food in a certain way - it goes farther. But we will always encourage people to hold food drives and stuff too.

Just something to keep in mind.