Does the Red Cross accept donations of food, clothing, and supplies (gifts in-kind)?
A. The Red Cross does not accept individual donations of material items (called “in-kind” donations) because receipt of such items can actually hamper relief efforts. The financial and personnel cost of receiving, sorting, transporting goods and ensuring the quality and cleanliness of items donated by individual households is very high. It does not allow for individuals and families to receive what they uniquely need in their own size and shape. The traditional method of providing Red Cross assistance is with a voucher, redeemable at local stores and paid for with donation dollars, that enables victims to purchase what they need in the correct sizes and in accordance with their own taste. Making even these small decisions helps individuals begin to take control of their lives and their recovery. In addition, this process helps channel money into the local economy and thus aids the community in recovery from disaster. The Red Cross does accept large corporate donations of food, bottled
A. While the Red Cross does not accept donations of food or clothing for victims of disaster because of the logistical difficulties of delivering such goods to those in need of assistance, we do accept bulk corporate donations that are appropriate to our mission. Generally, these are large quantities of goods direct from a manufacturer, shrink-wrapped, palletized and transported by the donor. For more information on this policy or referrals, please CONTACT US. Q. I want to help raise money for a specific family that has been affected by disaster or tragedy, but I would like to do this through a charity so that I get a charitable deduction. Can I make my gift through the Red Cross? A. We applaud your desire to help a family at a difficult time, but unfortunately gifts for a specific family or person cannot be made through the Red Cross. This is because we are committed to helping every family in need recover from emergencies by providing food, clothing, shelter and other essential servi
