i understand every word your saying and yes many times its better to give money then a quilt or other various items.
you, as the person giving the charity, must look at each situation and determine if the person receiving needs items (quilts, clothing, etc) or do they need cash.
people who have lost their home and everything in it might not need a quilt when they don't even have a bed to sleep in and in this case money might be the best answer.
yet some one in hospice care might need a quilt and other items to let them know that during the holidays the surrounding community hasn't forgotten about them and still consider them a vital part of the community.