CHIP Executive Director Kat Rosqueta spoke with NPR’s Lulu Garcia-Navarro about donating to nonprofits in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. With so many communities in need, Kat gives guidance on deciding where to donate, how to find volunteer opportunities, and making the most impact with a donation.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: What kind of donations do you think will be the most valuable – money, clothes, food, toys? Is it better to give things, or is it better to give cash?
ROSQUETA: In any kind of crisis or disaster, it is always better to give money. And that’s because money is more flexible and because the needs on the ground can change very quickly. Donations of items can be really challenging, especially when you have nonprofits who already may not have all of their personnel available because of COVID, either because, you know, the staff are sick or they’re caring for a child who’s not in school or a sick relative.
So cash or money is always better because it allows those first responders to respond in whatever way is needed at that moment. And what matters, what is needed today, may be very different than what’s needed next week.