There are many reasons. When you give $20.00 most of it will not reach the destination. Sometimes money is better, but only if it can be given in person, which in most cases is not possible. In another instances, everyone will send money to get needed things and forget the little things that make us feel good and loved, and nothing do that better than a quilt, in my opinion. In many cases all you can afford is 10 or 20 dollars, but by donating a quilt it can be sold or raffled off and raise much more than you could donate by giving cash. When I donate a quilt I am not expecting that someone will own it immediately. It can be used any way they see fit to help those in need.
I once made one for Stop Domestic Violence. They had a surplus of them and used mine for a while to decorate their office and later on raffled it to help buy food for their shelter. I am sure at the end someone is loving my quilt and the charitable organization got their much needed assistance.