Community Chat

[luvingit]

Hate feeling like Scrooge. But I have my own charities.

[insomniac]

I always say yes.

[circles]

I worked in a supermarket and we were expected to ask each customer to donate....and incentives were offered to the cashier who sold the most each week...

I hated it!!! So I wouldn't ask...fortunately I didn't get in trouble for not doing my part...

My thought was and still is....I don't like being asked so why should I do the same to someone else....

We always seemed to have people by the exits selling one thing or another or the bell ringers during the Holiday....you could barely get in and out of the doors with the gang of people asking us to purchase something or donate money....it was uncomfortable and annoying...!!!

I have charities I donate to on a regular basis...so I am not a selfish person...I just don't like being bombarded by a cashier or a seller at the door...

[Deb1010again]

What gets me is when the store wants you to purchase an item(s) from them like clothing, cosmetics, whatever and then drop it in a bin on your way out. The store is making a profit on that item, so it isn't all going to the charity.

I give or not depending on my mood that day if asked at the checkout. Like others, I give regularly to charities of my choice.

[Financialgrl]

I have given in the past. However, a few years ago I was in a grocery store and every time someone at a particular register gave, it registered at the customer service center and they'd announce it and the associates all started clapping. I felt like I was in the middle of some juvenile school fundraiser where there was some sort of contest and was totally turned off. I give enough each year to charities that have special meaning to me.

However, there are two type collections at the stores where I always go overboard - if I see someone collecting for Toys for Tots or the ones where as you enter you are handed a flier asking to buy things on the list to help re-stock the food bank.

ETA: I especially have no issue buying bags of food for the food bank because I notice after each "drive" the grocery store receives and posts a thank you letter to the public for their contributions. It's nice to give and nice to receive something showing that your efforts were received at their intended destination.

[CouponQueen]

It depends on the Charity..

[Baylie]

I find it very annoying but I almost always say yes. They usually only ask for a dollar or to round up so it's not much money but I don't think stores should do it.

[winamac1]

On 12/1/2014 moonchilde said:

I give occasionally at the grocery store, but only occasionally. The more different causes they come up with every other week, the less likely I am to say yes. I am most likely to give to food banks or similar, when I feel like it. They are going to do overkill with hitting people up constantly, and it's going to backfire at some point. ETA i do also give to the Salvation Army this time of year, even though unlike in my youth when all kettles were manned by actual members, now they pay random people to watch the kettles. Not crazy about that as I'm never entirely sure the money gets where it ought to.

ITA w/ all you stated. I give occasionally at the grocery store in the checkout but not often. I give to the Wheeler Mission and Gleaners Food Bank every holiday to feed the homeless. I occasionally put money in the red kettles. I get hit up about 10 times a day around the holiday season. I don't give to the people that walk around by the stop lights with buckets and kettles. I do not know WHERE that money goes to. I donate but in the ways I think are a bit more legit. I still don't know if the people who really need this money get it.

[Peaches McPhee]

I am for it. It is an easy, and inexpensive, way to give. Sometimes I say no, however.

[CouponQueen]

On 12/1/2014 moonchilde said:

I give occasionally at the grocery store, but only occasionally. The more different causes they come up with every other week, the less likely I am to say yes. I am most likely to give to food banks or similar, when I feel like it. They are going to do overkill with hitting people up constantly, and it's going to backfire at some point. ETA i do also give to the Salvation Army this time of year, even though unlike in my youth when all kettles were manned by actual members, now they pay random people to watch the kettles. Not crazy about that as I'm never entirely sure the money gets where it ought to.

...I don't trust many of them..they can hold the kettle up and skim off whatever came out, actually somebody was caught I was told..unfortunately it is always a few bad apples.....so that always sticks in my mind..but it is what it is..

A few years ago..somebody on here mentioned at the end of the Season or even on any day...they put a check for say $25 made out to the Salvation Army totaling what they would of probably dropped in all Season..

I do that now. I loved that idea...I do it on 12/15 or thereabouts....not to say when I am out Christmas Shopping..that I don't throw in a couple bucks..makes me feel guilty if I don't...very thankful for what we have..yes we worked our fanny's off since day one..but still for the Grace of God Go I...