Big teams mean BIG administration costs, very little of the donated money will ever go where its needed. What your sons school is doing is awesome though and since it's essentials going straight to actual people there it would be much appreciated for sure.
Big charities do get a bad rap but......
If I went to Dollarama and spent $5.00 on a toothbrush and tube of paste it would probably cost me a relative fortune in shipping. I sent $10 worth of chocolate to a sister in New Zealand and shipping was IIRC $40.
A large organization could take that $5.00 toothbrush donation and buy two or three times the amount of goods and ship for a tiny fraction of the price. Even if overheads were 50% more stuff gets into more needy hands.
I have mixed feelings about charity executives making massive salaries. It doesn't sound right that a person making $25 an hour gives an hour of his wage to a charity where the CEO is making ten or twenty times as much.
However putting a high school cheerleader in charge of a multi million dollar budget doesn't sound like a good idea either. You need someone someone with experience and connections. You need someone with an MBA or extensive business experience to avoid dead wood and bad decisions within the organization. If the right CEO can save 1% - 2% in a charity with a $100 million budget he's worth a seven figure salary.
I think the reaction part is due to the person with the proven abilities being probably worth multiple millions already. When does one start to give back?
The bottom line is that you need someone who can get that toothbrush to Ukraine for less than the cost of the brush. How about giving the refugees toothbrushes made in Poland? Minimal shipping costs and it supports a country that is taking the lead in helping their neighbours.
A little charity tip: Don't give food to the food bank.
Give them a cheque. They get too much Mac 'n cheese, canned spaghetti and canned beans. They need cash to buy stuff for balanced diets. If they need Mac'n cheese they can buy it cheaper than you.
As a kickback you get a charity receipt.