With Artic air dipping into Canada and the United States this first week
of 2018, many areas are experiencing sub-zero temperatures. The frigid
weather also reminds us of the hardships experienced by the homeless
seeking relief from the cold. Some shelters are likely to fill to
capacity during such dangerous drops in temperature, especially in major
cities. For those seeking to help the homeless during this difficult
weather season, we offer the following advice and suggestions.
Supporting Shelters: Homeless shelters need
support, especially this time of year, and would greatly appreciate
being remembered in your contribution activities. Most cities have
a number shelters that provide assistance, but need continuing support
as other charities. If a BBB charity report is not available, BBB WGA
recommends checking out the organization’s website for additional
details about its services and needs.
Financial Information: If you are seeking out
financial information on a homeless shelter, transparent organizations
will include website access to their latest financial statements. Even
small organizations should have some type of available financial
statements. Except for those shelters run by houses of worship,
charities that bring in $50,000 or more are required to annually
complete the IRS Form 990 EZ or the full IRS Form 990 if their gross
receipts exceed $200,000.
In-Kind Donations: It is best to check with a
shelter before making an in-kind donation of food, hygiene products,
blankets, clothing or coats. This will help you identify what gifts
would be most appreciated. Keep in mind that some shelters deal with a
large volume of homeless individuals. Also, travel size soaps, shampoos
and similar items are usually very helpful for distribution.
Volunteering: It is quite common for the volume of
volunteers to exceed paid staff at many shelters. Those interested in
helping out, however, should be willing to undergo a background check as
organizations seek to ensure the safety of their clients. Also, some
homeless organizations conduct outreach to those homeless that are
reluctant to seek shelter in order to provide blankets, food or other
necessities directly to where they are located.
Video of the Week
As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a
video that features Natasha Museles, Executive Director, Children’s Cancer
Foundation (a BBB
Accredited Charity). which supports facilities treating children
with cancer and researchers and programs designed to assist children or
families facing a diagnosis of cancer in Maryland, D.C., and Northern
Virginia.
Recent Reports
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for
donors. Visit Give.org or local
BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated
charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to https://www.give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if
you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list
and we will do our best to produce one.
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
