So I heard through the grapevine that staff members (people that work there) get first dibs on the donations. Why is that? All donations should be going to the homeless that can’t afford anything

I have to idea if this is true or not. In reality, this question had nothing to do with The services offered or the help this facility provides. As you said, you heard it through the grapevine. Which is where everyone has heard this rumor. So ignore it, get the help you need, and move on and donate back to those who helped you along the way

This is not true at all. I am a staff member and we do not get first pick at donations. They all are given right to those who need it. Some of our homeless residents in our program are in our workforce program and so they are recipients of donations since they are in the program while they get some job experience with us but they do not get any special treatment or first pick, they simply receive donations in the same order everyone else does.

That may not necessarily be true. But it makes sense that the staff would have access to the donations first. Remember, the staff isn't making six figures. A lot of them know what its like to be down and out, too.