What is with all the charities asking for money?
Today I was asked to donate money WHILE paying for groceries by the cashier, then again I was asked at the doorway of another grocery store, situated as she was it was impossible to avoid her, then again all the way up Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road by people holding clip boards and binders, basically forcing you to interact with them or risk seeming unfriendly. where does it end?
Now I know why some people don’t want to leave the house. —I.F.
This article appears in Sep 16-22, 2010.
I’m a cashier at one of these grocery stores and I hate it to, you ask people to donate, and instead of just saying “No thanks”, they reply with “NO.” I don’t care if you don’t want to, but stop being so rude about it. IT IS MY JOB, I HAVE TO DO IT.
It’s because these grocery stores bring in great revenue and profits but continue to donate to charities by using other peoples’ money instead of dipping into those profits. Corporate charity is one type I do not ever give to. Maybe if the corporations could dip into its profit margins and not get a huge tax write-off I’d think about it.
I’m a cashier too. I need to echo Echo^ here. When people don’t want to donate, half of them get all defensive or indignant and go on about how they donate to charity already. I don’t care! I’m only asking because they’ll be on my back if I don’t. Make it easy for the both of us and just say “no thanks”.
I just keep handing out the loonies and toonies. I have lots and these are usually worthy causes. I end up with a little less cash at the end of each month but I think I end up richer in some way.
I’ve never been “pressured” by a cashier to donate. They simply ask nicely if I want to donate and when I say no thanks they don’t give me the ole stink eye or anything. I don’t feel guilty because I pay my taxes and haven’t gone on welfare (yet hehe, eventually I’m gonna tap that government ass), and therefore I’ve been helping pay for other people already.
personally I think it’s really bad taste to ask directly for donations in this manner ; it’s starting to get a littli tiresome
I would prefer it if they handed out information packages about their charitable cause. That way I can be informed of what they do, where they come from, whether it is some kind of religious organization etc, and I can make an “informed choice”. Why would I give money to a cause I know nothing about?
Commandante, I used to have the same theory. Then I realized that, instead of handing out random change throughout the year, I could donate one lump sum to the charity that means something to me and get a tax receipt. When asked at any cash register, or workplace fundraiser, etc. to donate to a charity, I simply say “No thanks.” My conscience is clear.
Same thing happened to me on Saturday at the MacDonald Bridge. I had just paid my toll, and then some silly young woman comes running up in front of my car shaking one of those large water jugs asking for money. WTF. I told her sorry but the bridge commission just took my change. I’m sick and tired of constantly being asked to donate. It’s overkill!
Well I can understand why people get upset, everytime you turn around someone has their hand out for you cash. At the Mall Firefighers were looking for money Saturday then little kids at the liquor store, then the lions club at traffic lights, at the grocery stores, bums on the street, united way at work, food bank at work, jeeze you can’t even turn your tv on with out some 3 world country having a program on how bad they need money. I understand these are all good causes but it is frustrating.
I do give to charities and it is self rewarding but it is frustrating
I always tell them no thanks…but I’m willing to take any donations I can get.
Never seems to work, even the Salvation Army guy’s who are standing there with a big ball full of cash ,never give you any ~:'(
The worst is when they do boot drives like at the entrance to the Cole Harbour Shopping Centre. They actually get you as your driving up, thereby holding up traffic. There oughtta be a law against that…
I’ll risk seeing unfriendly everytime vs. handing out my money… Firstly, I don’t have time to talk to the Red Cross or whomever when I’m walking quickly down Spring Garden to catch the bus.
Secondly, with the amount of taxes I pay in this province they should be petitioning the provincial government – they are the ones who have all my money.
Oh and when you go out to eat don’t forget to tip. hahaha everyone wants your money. hahaha
To echo, um, ECHO… I used to work at a grocery store, and we’re required to ask whenever we’re doing that. And trust me, I hated doing it, too. But it’s hilarious because it’s typically just asking that you round your order to the nearest dollar. I couldn’t believe the people who actually said no when their order was like $29.99. I mean, it’s just a penny… lol. Anyway, I hated the people that practically shouted no at me. All they have to say is “no, thanks”. If people don’t want me asking them the question, which is an unfortunate part of my [former] job, then maybe I shouldn’t ring them through or do the other parts of my job, like treat them with decent customer service.
they have to ask “did you find everything you were looking for?” i usually try to say something funny because i know it’s part of their job. ie: “well, i was looking for the meaning of life but decided to buy cheese instead”
*mouse ears* If I’m feeling particularly anarchic I’ll respond like the creepy waiter guy on the Simpsons. “YeeeeeEEEEESSSSS!
Queen,
I know what you mean. I support a number of causes through monthly donations, either payroll deducted or directly on my credit card. I receive tax receipts for these. However, I also give to the various organizations that send their minions out canvassing door-to-door or groups that collect at the grocery stores. At Christmas time, I must plug those Salvation Army kettles five times a day for a few weeks – they’re everywhere and I can’t pass one up without dropping something in.
I resist the ‘giving urge’ when it comes to random people I see on street corners, although some of them may have real needs that aren’t being met any other way.
I reason that with my other ‘giving’ strategies, there are places they can go if they are in dire need.
they want you to give til it hurts o.p., well give them something they should have,the finger.
oh no, I know! It’s because people have nothing better to do than waste your time on philanthropic missions. BITCH. Get a coping skill!
Paying your taxes does NOT help many charities. For example, Crime Stoppers receives a whopping $0 every year for their efforts, they receive no public funding of any kind and do NOT enjoy the cash/property/drugs they recover yet they pay you, Jo Public for tips and, yes, they NEED your money as your tax dollars do not help the #1 most effective weapon we have against crime. THINK!!! Then be kind in your response. Simple.
Hey, Ivan, that character was based on a 1950s character actor Frank Nelson – he also did voice work for WB, playing, natch, the ‘yeeessssss’ guy.
“Then be kind in your response. Simple.”
You’re a fucking psycho. 🙂
According to Crime Stoppers, Kay, very little is ever actually given out in the form of rewards for tips.
Just something to chew on.
Anyway, corporate donations are crap. The corporation asks for money from customers and often takes a percentage of said donations as a “handling/organizational fee” or some such bullshit and then gets a tax break on the money they’ve donated.
It’s a crock of shit, where corporations are probably making money off of charitable donations and in the end, only a percentage of that dollar or two you donated really ever gets to the charity.
You’re MUCH better off donating that dollar directly to the charity itself.
Cool TTFN. That, I did not know. Spassibo Bolshoi >: )
Here’s Frank in his heyday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA_r1Ynl4Ls…
OMFG – the Simpsons really did him justice. That’s it! This Saturday is going to be Frank Nelson Day at the shop. >; )
The “donate a twoonie at the cash” thing actually completely goes to the charity. Well, it completely goes to the one I work for, anyway. The problem with it though is that it’s sooooo labour intensive from our end, the calling, tracking down managers, getting them to commit, delivering supplies, following up, reminding, collecting, ugh. We hate that fundraiser as much as you do, so other methods of raising the money needed to fund research and education are more than welcome. The thing with this fundraiser too though, is that it’s kind of in everyone’s face. And Joe Public needs constant reminders that you exist or they continue on their merry way…
Slack Jawed Hipster: Hey Dude.
Ivan Sonfabitch: YeeeeeEEEEEEEES
Slack Jawed Hipster: Like, do you have any Kerouac or Bukowski?
Ivan Sonofabitch: Go home and fuck your dead mother in the mouth a little bit more.
Okay, maybe “Frank Nelson Day” not such a good idea. >: (
haha, perhaps not. talk like a pirate day has come and gone but it’s worth a try…aaargh
What?! Did I miss talk like a pirate day??? Nooooooooo!!!!
Without corporate sponsorship MOST charities would not exist.
The stats for most Crime Stoppers units are listed on their website. Very little is paid out in the way of rewards when you look at number of tips but something else to think about is that Crime Stoppers expenses do NOT stop at tips. Do you really think charitable organization boards are comprised of people who administer the program for free? Do you think the signs you see all over town are “donations”? Think again… and then go ahead and check out their tax return… it’s all public.
Thinking charities don’t need your money and your support is exactly what created the need for the charity in the first place. There’s also… what’s it called?… “The Garcia affect”?… The idea that somebody ELSE will do what’s required so you should do nothing… not uncommon thinking but still very stupid.
Yeah, I’d better be a good boy. I’ve gotten rather fond of my front teeth over the years. The shop needs a parrot, though. A baleful old Macaw with a wide vocabulary of the most hair-raising profanities would be hella kule.
sorry ralmn, it’s the simpson’s calendar…has lots of odd festivals and what not. a macaw with a potty-mouth would add a certain something to any shop admiral…squawk
Mr. Parrot would make it feel like talk like a pirate day EVERY day. And how could that be a bad thing??
So sad, it’s one of my fav days of the year… nostalgia alert: My first ever talk like a pirate day, I was but a uni student slinging beers for the after work crowd and my on of my fav customers, with long gray hair in a pony tail and a very pirate-esque beard starts talking to me like that. Nearly threw his clancy’s at him when he called me wench. Ha ha, but, I was soon steered right. Made the day of the whole pub when they decided it was to be an annual event. Tips were good on those days (yes, TIPS).
*mouse ears* my old friends back home…
I think you all have very good arguments in this case. Even you Kay. I always give the $1 at the stores, but I never give to the people who stop me at grocery stores in the parking lot…they always catch me off guard. Speaking of charities…it’s prostate cancer week I think I read… I want one of those ties!
RRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…….
it’s armenian independence day ralmn, that should be good for something or other^^
Think Kay? Says a lot coming from you.
After the punishing taxes and forced deductions in this province what makes you think I have money left for Crime Stoppers, or any other entity? Get real.
Lower taxes and then maybe I’ll feel generous about spreading my excess cash around. As it is, I make a little more than $50K and once the needs of my own and my son are taken care of, I am in the red, living paycheck to paycheck.
Perhaps if you care for charities so much, you can maek my contributions for me.
Anyway… charity was the social safety net of it’s day. Think the Salvation Army. That day is long gone.
Now that we have a socialist Nanny State, the government has taken away the option of the “free market social safety net” by taxing it’s constituents to levels in which they are barely able to meet their own liabilities. Want more to be given to charities? Lower taxes.
There’s also the Kay Effect: saying nothing, doing nothing, being liked by nobody; just wants to hear themselves talk and see their screen name making no points.
Kay — in your post IIRC, you were talking about pay outs from crimestoppers, not admin fees, so get the fuck off your high horse already.
WTF kitty? High horse? I advised you look at their tax return for a look at finances associated with operating a charity.
dartmouthy, “After the punishing taxes and forced deductions in this province…” charities need your support more than ever since so many rely on them during harsh economic times. I mean, don’t go out of your way with your $50k/yr or anything but if you would forgo the value of a coffee today you and your friends and coworkers could make a real difference. There’s strength in numbers, even small ones…. but I have to agree with your second point somewhat… reduce taxes and cost of living and you reduce the need for (some) charity. I’m glad to live among people who take care of their own.
Call it a “nanny state” if you want but I’m happy mom and dad have reasonable healthcare and retirement income , so do you and so do I. For those who don’t get enough for whatever reason, I’m equally happy we have people and groups dedicated to helping them. We have so much…
Fat, please give up. There are no points to be had. I’m no different than any other bitch adding my two cents to threads that tickle me. Please fuck off now.
Maybe you didn’t read my post Kay… I’m stuck in the overdraft and credit card shuffle, spending money I don’t have. And you want me to give more.
Some charities are deserving, and boy I’d love to be able to help them. I can’t afford to own a home or a car in this province. I can’t even afford Cable TV.
So like I said – get off your high horse and feel free to donate for me – or petition the government to lower taxes, so that I could actually afford the gift of a donation. Cause I’d really like to, but I’m not paying credit card interest to do so.
And you missed my second point entirely – not to reduce taxes so that the need of charity is reduced – I doubt the need for charity will EVER be reduced. I’m not arguing that there is a need for charity!
Reducing taxes would enable people to afford to give more, since they wouldn’t be giving half of what they make directly to the government before passing Go.
And then there are things like this:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/09/21/…
Good link dartmouthy. It’s wise to be diligent about the charities one supports.
Right now, The United Ivan Pizza Fund is getting all of my spare change., No telemarketers, no canvassers, no bureaucracy, minimal office staff and my personal guarantee that 100% of monies raised will be applied to a workable long term solution to why Ivan can’t have pizza as often as he wants. OK, some of the money raised will go for beer.
But beer can easily be hidden in administrative costs, can’t it??
YeeeeeEEEEEESSSSS! Yes it can. >; )
Nice Dartmouthy…they have pretty much the same article but mostly about Crime stoppers on this site
http://news.ca.msn.com/local/novascotia/ar…
i think i found a good parrot for you general
http://blog.trutv.com/dumb_as_a_blog/2010/…
RaaaawwwwwK!. O.K., as of right now the United Ivan Pizza Fund is going to devote all it’s time and fundraising efforts to bailing out this guy and bringing him to Canada. Columbia can have Omar Khadr in exchange. Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Merci Painuchka >: )
thanks ivan, the boy would be proud i am actually learning to copy and paste^^
Oh BearPainBoy (Hey, it’s better than being a ManBearPig), the parents they grow up so quickly^^^^. *HeeHaw!*