It’s that time of year: Tree lights are twinkling, the Peppermint Mocha is back, and the retail deals are to die for. So many of us are fortunate enough to enjoy hot meals and sweet treats with our dear friends and freaky, funky families. There’s always the possibility of seasonal affective disorder and material overload, but in general, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Material donations are important and greatly appreciated by food banks, no doubt. Most nonprofits won’t ever turn away a donation of any kind. The reality is, though, food banks can do so much more with our cash donations than our food donations.

The same $10 that you would spend to, say, get three cans of food, could actually buy retail value 20 times more food,” says Kat Rosqueta, Executive Director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy

Read the full article by Lisa Sadikman about donations from ScaryMommy.com