They were actually good at verifying deaths and family disruptions so our overseas soldiers could get permission to go home. I used them any number of times.
But in terms of donating to a specific cause, they aren’t so hot.
I know for a fact that During WW II, the Red Cross had promised our military guys that if there was an emergency, they would help the man get home. A man’s wife went into labor early ( VERY EARLY...had a bay at the sixth month of her pregnancy, which back then was dangerous in the extreme ) the man asked for help to get home and they REFUSED to help him in ANY way !