I wanted to take a moment to explain why we (Red Cross), for the most part, can only accept cash donations.
Following a disaster (like this fire), we focus on getting the most needed assistance to those affected as quickly as possible. Financial donations allow us to do just that. For example, we will arrange for a place for our clients to sleep that night (and for the next few nights), food to eat and clothes to wear. This assistance is given in the form of a Client Assistance Card that functions similarly to a credit or debit card.
Cash donations also allow us to purchase large quantities of goods to provide quality and consistent assistance.
Accepting donations of clothing or other small items require resources to sort, process, store and transport. This takes the focus of our workers off the goal of providing that immediate assistance. And there are often hidden costs and quality control challenges with processing the donated items.
One solution has been for us to identify a partner agency (i.e. Good Will, Salvation Army or a neighboring church) who does have the resources to handle those donated items. This partnership allows the Red Cross to focus on financial assistance and also provides an opportunity for the community to provide additional assistance in the form of donated items.
I hope that satisfactorily addresses your question.
Please feel free to contact me with any further comments or questions.
Regards,
Aaron Litwin
Regional Officer
American Red Cross
Bay Area Chapter
LitwinA@usa.redcross.org
--- In californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com, Rick Bates <HappyMoosePhoto@...> wrote:
>
> Three injuries (one firefighter) and 60 now homeless. Red Cross rep says they can't accept anything but cash (what the heck?).
>
> Source: CBS 13, Sac
>
> Rick
>
> Tiny iPhone keypad, sorry for typos
>
> On Dec 22, 2011, at 11:39 PM, Kim Noyes <kimnoyes@...> wrote:
>
> > To the ears of a San Francisco resident a.k.a. a resident of "The City" the word "Frisco" is rather annoying and an indicator of an outsider. No true "Friscan" would refer to it as "Frisco" or to themselves or any other resident of The City as a "Friscan". I post this not as a criticism of Jason's use of the expression but merely to point out that he belied his "out-of-townness" by using it and probably caused a few Friscan's on this list to flinch. ;-p
> >
> > Kimmer
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 5:49 PM, Dan Waterhouse <gydanw@...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Rick and others--this massive fire is near Alamo Square in the Western Addition of SF, on the western edge of downtown. The Square itself is lined by Victorian residences and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
> >
> > I was keeping an eye on the news reports regarding this blaze--I'm a fire buff/photographer who lives several hours away from SF. The 13,000 square foot apartment building where the fire started was wood frame and nearly 100 years old. SF was experiencing sustained winds of 20+ mph today, which didn't help with the fire fight.
> >
> > --dan
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Rick Bates
> > To: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 5:09 PM
> > Subject: RE: [californiadisasters] Frisco fire
> >
> >
> > San Francisco, three apartment buildings burned, 2 injuries, 3 hours to contain and still not allowing investigators in, too hot.
> >
> >
> > I don’t know about any Alamo district, Alamo is a town in the east bay. Plenty of video and a ‘good rip’ as we used to say. Many are now homeless.
> >
> >
> > Source: CBS 13 Sacramento
> >
> >
> > Rick
> >
> >
> > From: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com [mailto:californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bob H
> > Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 4:05 PM
> > To: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: RE: [californiadisasters] Frisco fire
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Frisco Texas?
> >
> > To: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com
> > From: Fizzboy7@...
> > Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:12:59 -0500
> > Subject: [californiadisasters] Frisco fire
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Five alarm fire burning up several apartment buildings and a school in the Alamo District of Frisco. 20 mph winds are not helping. Fire fighters were just pulled out.
> >
> > Jason
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/
> > Read my blog at http://eclecticarcania.blogspot.com/
> > My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/derkimster
> > Linkedin profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kim-noyes/9/3a1/2b8
> > Follow me on Twitter @DisasterKim
> >
> >
>
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