In Which I Weep For Humanity...

[Broomjockey]

Donations go into the general coffers of the organization. More donations mean that more money can be freed up for specific disaster relief but you cannot specify how your donation will be used. Your money may help feed and provide medical care for people in shelters. It may be spent on fuel for emergency vehicles but it can also be used to buy toner for printers and pay for electricity in Red Cross offices. That's just the way it is.

Charities have bills to pay too.

These two things, people tend to forget. A few years ago, there was an groundswell of indignity against the Red Cross in the wake of some disaster or another because supposedly like 40% of donations were being held on to, and the rest wasn't all going to the site. People just forgot that the Red Cross is a business without a product to sell for income.

[fireheart]

According to the Red Cross website, 100% of this fund is going straight into those that need it, rather than it being used to pay the bills. A lot of people have been donating blood too for those who were injured in the fire. Either way, I'll be prepared for Red Cross to start doorknocking.