I’m sick of all the charities who setup their booths in store entrances. They are usually staffed by children so as to rake in more money. It’s bad enough that they ask you for money when you go in but the same person will try again when you leave! Like a lot of people I don’t even carry money anymore, so when I have nothing to give their pleasant smile is replace by the ‘you cheap bastard’ look. If people want to give to the charity they will but they shouldn’t be asking everyone who walks in the door. —Put Up a Sign and Leave Me Alone
This article appears in Dec 1-7, 2011.
to me this is like 10 times worse than tele-mark., frankly it’s legal harassment
“when I have nothing to give their pleasant smile is replace by the ‘you cheap bastard’ look”
don’t you enjoy spreading the gloom and misery of the season?
keeps my cockles nicely frozen, it does.
http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/hir…
I have to agree with the poster. I don’t like it when kids just take it upon themselves to pack my groceries and expect money in return without even asking me. I really think big retailers are taking this too far to have these people in the stores. Most people can barely afford their own groceries. I really find it funny when they ask me if I want to donate 2.00 to something. No they don’t just ask if you would like to round up they ask for 2.00. I guess anything less isn’t worth their while. Terrible practice that has been started.
Meh – today’s kids have to learn what “No” means at some point. It sure as billy-be-frigged ain’t their parents teaching them the concept.
Agreed, I am tired of that harassment.
I feel bad walking past them at the escalalators, I Love to donate but there are just so many booths this time of year! Makes going to the mall and grocery stores a bit anxious. I actually had a couple of guys shaking buckets full of change as we passed , this was after donating to several booths throughout on our way home,and they asked my little one if he would like to donate :0 Of course I had to say yes after that, he loves throwing pennies in and they were like ” aw cmon mom you can do better than that” they left me alone after a couple of toonies and I was left thinking “glad that wasn’t my bus change jerk”
Oh piss off, OP. No one’s forcing you to give money, so just say “no” and walk away.
you’re a mean one, mr. grich.
http://www.christmaslibrary.ca/grinch/song…
I just tell them that the government takes all my money, sorry, lol
If I have some loose change I drop it in if not I walk on by with no guilt, no biggy….
OB, just respond with “I gave my donation online.” The majority of the time they don’t question it…. if they do, just say “Merry Christmas.’ I never give those fucks a cent. They should get out there and work for their money like everyone else.
I hate the certain organization that’s set up at the liquor stores and in the malls.. It’s a homophobic organization and I’d much rather give my money to a charity that helps out anyone in need, regardless of sexual orientation. Sure, they do a lot of good work but I can’t support an organization that excludes the LGBT community.
I don’t mind the girls who pack my food, I mind the D.A.R.E. people at future shop and places of like. I like to ask lots of questions, like have they ever known people with drug problems, and what other organizations they work with, like cops as teachers helpers in schools under over to hear the kids talk about parents business …., I am more worried about anyone who is affiliated with the occupy movement isn’t allowed to speak anywhere.
I don’t have a problem with them being there … what I have a problem with the often present expectation that I give. Maybe I don’t have loose change, maybe I’m really broke and can’t afford it, maybe I just don’t want to … but, whatever the reason, it’s not a requirement for me to donate. The companies that permit this, the organizations that make the arrangements, the parents whose children participate … all have some responsibility here to ensure the attitude projected to customers walking past is one of appreciation IF they choose to donate instead of one of entitlement to MY money.
I agree persevere, and would like to point out, why is it the shoppers job to pay the kids, the parents had the kids, they should be able to pay for their sports right?, no , as usual they have the kids and expect the world to pay the shot, wanna tell me why the help I should have to even be presented with the option for that matter, im gonna start asking if they have any gay ppl on their teams.
agreed naveed http://failfun.com/wp-content/uploads/Sign…
I agree with this post. With the cost of everything going up and then they are asking for donations during one of the most expensive seasons to top it all off. Its annoying but what can you do other than A) Ignore them or B) Tell them you can’t afford to donate.
I already donate when I pay taxes. No guilt from me.
Money for your charity, huh? O.K. how about we trade — you guys pay either for my groceries, or my power bill, or my water bill and I’ll give to your charity. Oh, no can do?? Well, have a nice day.
It is getting to the point that I, like many other people, am becoming a charity of my own these days with various increases in costs. Just because I am entering a grocery or any other store does not mean I print money in the basement, or have a trust fund, to hand out willy nilly to everyone. Sheesh!
Seriously? It’s for charity. These are non-profit organizations who help people and you’re ‘irritated’ at them for ‘harassing’ you?
Give or don’t give, but don’t complain just because they care more than you do.
how do you know we don’t care? some of us have *compassion fatigue* (thanks uncle vanya) we’re tapped out emotionally and monetarily from giving the rest of the fecking year
Khorosho, Painuchka. >: )
Breadlady is absolutely correct. Resources are finite and part of “caring” means directing them where you feel they will do the most good.
My spouse gets mad if I give any monies to anyone, don’t blame him, everyone has their hand out, especially if you are clean and have no face tats
I don’t care if someone gives me a cheap bastard look because I am a cheap bastard.
when someone gives me the cheap bastard look, I don’t care if they are 10 years old, I tell them to fuck off.
For the most part, I think people should do something for the money. Like a magic trick. Or a song.
and you guys still have D.A.R.E.? They are almost all gone here, b/c they don’t work. (ask my niece, the former DARE line leader!)
This is nothing new. Charity reps ringing bells, standing beside kettles or rattling change buckets this time of year has been happening since Christ was born, literally. EVERYBODY is out for your money, from the big box stores to the kids bagging groceries. It’s as much a part of Christmas as putting adorned evergreens in our living room or cramming turkey down your gob. But seriously, can ya blame ’em? It’s all thanks to commercialism. Typically people are spending their hard earned cash on overpriced stuff that nobody really needs anyway. The charities are just taking advantage of this fact. The problem is, most people perpetuate it by only being generous or thinking of those less fortunate for half a month of the year. I typically only give to those charities/non-profit groups that I have either used, volunteered for or otherwise shared some sort of a connection with in the past. (For example, I was involved with Scouts Canada for years and grew up with a respiratory condition so I don’t mind donating to these groups on occasion) Otherwise, if I don’t donate if I don’t feel like it and I don’t feel one bit guilty about it either. I don’t let them shame me into anything. It’s my money and I’ll do with it what I please. I can’t be expected to support each and every can rattler out there looking for a deposit. And besides, doesn’t the saying go “charity begins at home”?
i’m making lime coconut cookies, it’s a new recipe for me. guilt and shame aren’t useful emotions. well, maybe a teeny bit of mom guilt, but only if you both laugh
I have to admit that I’ve droped more than a couple of bucks into the kettle so far this year.
One of my grandmothers was a member of the kettle folk’s choir for many years…
Painey put the lime in de coconut, mixed it all together and made cookies!
Just let a huge one rip as you pass them, I’m sure after that, they will want nothing from you. and instead of the Cheap Bastard look you will get the Who Farted look.
watch out for those coconuts…
their overlords are plotting something evil.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/ima…
After working for a charity for some time (better than a year), I have seen them do some pretty good work and make profound differences in peoples lives. I am still hesitant to give money to any charity because of the amount of money, in my opinion, I saw wasted on irrelevant shit. I’m not even sure how much of every dollar donated actually benefits the people they are helping, but I know that there were some seriously overpaid wastes of space as managers. I have actually never worked with so many lazy people, more worried about being in charge than actually getting work done. I don’t give money to charities, only items that cannot be spent and will actually make it into the hands of the people in need, such as clothing, food, or household items. I leave the donating of the money to people who can more afford it than myself, I to do my part so I don’t feel bad no matter what the attitude the grocery store collectors have when I say no.
I don’t feel bad not donating to kids fund raising if I don’t have any money, and I never donate to corporations fund raising for whatever. Why? Because when stores like a store that is super raises money for their charity, who do you think gets a big fat tax break? Not me. So, they actually end up making money off their ‘fund raising efforts.’ Plus, most just do it for PR purposes, anyway.
If I’m going to donate, I’m going to donate directly to the cause.
Or, instead of giving money, I’m more than happy to donate goods like food or like this year, I took two names of seniors off of the ‘be a santa to a senior’ tree at wally world and bought presents for them. These are people who have no family and wouldn’t otherwise get gifts, and what they were asking for was kind of heartbreaking — one asked for a grocery gift card, another wanted a warm robe, one wanted body wash and a puff…. simple things, really.
“Meh – today’s kids have to learn what “No” means at some point. It sure as billy-be-frigged ain’t their parents teaching them the concept.”
Word, brother, word! I’m wit’cha on dat.
“I already donate when I pay taxes. No guilt from me.”
Me too, bruh!
“OB, just respond with “I gave my donation online.” The majority of the time they don’t question it…. if they do, just say “Merry Christmas.’ I never give those fucks a cent. They should get out there and work for their money like everyone else.”
Shut up, Leveticus. Not everyone does what you do for money because the rest of us are human beings.
“Just let a huge one rip as you pass them, I’m sure after that, they will want nothing from you. and instead of the Cheap Bastard look you will get the Who Farted look.”
I like this poster!
They aren’t all charities, sometimes they’re twirlers or other school kids begging for change for their school vacation, er…trip, to god knows where.
I think the best was when they had a table for people to sign a petition so bike lanes wouldn’t go onto herring cove road. That was cute.
IT used to be that kids would sell chocolate bars or have raffles or whatever to raise money. Not they just ask “can I have some money?” WTF is up with that shit? Go ask your damn parents for money!
And frig off while you’re at it.
At least when I donate to Girl Guides I get those delicious mint chocolate wafers in return!
ya, those overpriced candy bars…
or *ghasp* having them sponsor for an activity like walkathon or (when I was a kid) swim-a-thon.
I’ll never forget being TOO good at fund raising and having to do 88 consecutive laps in the ymca pool. I was 10 for fuck sakes….
not my idea of a FUN hours long swim.
Yeah, my mom put a stop to the chocolate bar fund raising in our house — diabetes= no refined sugar in da house.
The school was PISSED, even though at that point a) I wasn’t in band and b) I wasn’t in sports, which is where all the money went to. AND they were still pissy at me when I donated the cost of the bag of bars after they DEMANDED the ‘donation’ (40 bucks).
Make the sports teams and band geeks sell chocolate bars! Why should the rest of us fund raise for those douches? (and the people in sports/band in my jr high WERE douches).
Not like *I* got to go on that NYC trip.
PK, remember PR school when someone said, “It’s not like you can just walk past the kids when they’re so cute and doing something!” And ol’ NGF blurts out, “Yes you can. Just brush them aside and say, “Out of the way, you!”
The best thing you can tell kids asking for money is, “I already donate to kids’ stuff. It’s called mortgage, clothing and food on the table! Now get out of the way, you little shits!”
I think OP and the most of the posters are making way too much out of this. I give to the grocery baggers because they are doing something for their change. Actually I do give to most charities I run across but that’s just what I do. I don’t look down on anyone you doesn’t, it’s their choice. I suppose there is some inner tension from thinking that one is obliged to donate and that might manifest itself in thinking the kid is thinking you’re cheap. It isn’t the kid, it’s just you. Just get over it.
my dad loves the firemen at the grocery store parking lot collecting change in rubber boots. He guns the engine blowing exhaust while uttering profanities every time.