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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: How many families does PRISM help?
A: During 2008 gifts have enabled PRISM to provide:

  • Food to support 4,640 food shelf visits averaging 20 pounds per person per visit
  • Over 1,400 children with school supplies, a birthday gift, and/or gifts from the Holiday Shoppe
  • Over 4,000 shopping visits to the Clothes Closet providing families with clothing, coats, shoes, and other household needs
  • Over 100 working families with a vehicle.
  • Nearly 500 families with vehicle repairs
  • Over 400 families with budgeting education.
  • 150 families with car care education.

Q: Where does my donation go?
A: $.94 of every $1.00 donated to PRISM goes directly into program services for families and individuals in need. $.03 goes to administration and facility costs and $.03 goes to raising more funds and increasing awareness for PRISM. This 94% rate exceeds both national benchmarks for charities (70% minimum) and the average for Twin Cities charities (85%). To look at PRISM's FY2007 audit, click here (PDF).

Q: Are my donations to PRISM tax deductible?
A: Yes. PRISM is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Q: What type of gift would be most beneficial to PRISM?

A: Although many types of gifts benefit PRISM, when donating to the Food Shelf, the gift of money is the most beneficial.  Over 50% of the food in the Food Shelf is purchased by PRISM from Second Harvest Heartland.  Through this relationship, PRISM is able to use $1 to purchase $5 worth of groceries!  If you want your financial gift to benefit the Food Shelf, please indicate this on your donation.

Q: Some grocery stores offer buy one get one free items such as turkeys with an option to leave one of the items or turkey with the grocery store for distribution.  Does this benefit PRISM?

A: Not necessarily.  This will benefit PRISM if you take the free item or turkey with you and bring directly to PRISM for donation.  PRISM will be happy to see you and has a large freezer that will accomdate the turkeys.  Leaving the turkeys at the grocery store for distribution doesn't guarantee a donation to PRISM. The turkeys are divided between a number of different organizations, which includes a delivery charge to the organization. 

   

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