Donors want to give tangible things, like clothing and food, and shy away from donating money to defray operating expenses, Neighbors Helping Neighbors director and CEO Todd Young said.
However, keeping The Neighborhood and its agencies afloat is essential because the work done there goes far beyond feeding and clothing the needy, according to Young.
Agencies in The Neighborhood offer stability in the shape of food, clothing, hygiene and other services. Neighbors Helping Neighbors takes it a step further. Once clients have access to these stabilizing factors, it offers them training and employment opportunities, and then nudges and prods them to improve their own lives.
In some cases, material gifts are misguided. For instance, so many coats come in that he has sent them on to…