So now we have Feed N.S. begging for change at intersections.Is it just me or does this seem to be getting out of hand? You would think by now they would have a better process already established for receiving donations, rather then begging for change at intersections . I have to say I am getting tired of being asked for change around every corner.
—Empty pockets …
This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2009.
I seen them out yesterday too, looking like they’d rather be anywhere but there. While I’d rather have them as opposed to the guy hiding an iPod under his hoodie, I think Feed NS doesn’t need to resort to that.
They decided that squeegee guys (& girls ) could no longer do that activity at corners for money, & even made a law about it.
I decided right there & then…if they can’t do it for money, I’m not going to support anyone else either, not to feed the pretend poor,who’ve blown their check on booze, cigarettes & machines. Not the Dal & other University students who do that to raise cash.
What’s good for one , is good for all in my book & like I said to the grocery clerk who asked last week if i wanted to donate a dollar to “can’t remember the charity” I told her no thanks, but they can donate to me any time !
I’m getting tired of working hard for my money while others line up all over town, in stores, on the streets, at the damn cash registers as well lately , begging for me to give it to them ! ! !
Wow More, I certainly hope you never have the misfortune of having to rely on a service such as Feed NS or any other nonprofit/charity.
I understand how frustrating it is to have everyone asking for your money all the time, wherever you go but sometimes, it is for a good cause and sometimes, no matter how bad your situation may or may not be, there is always someone who is worse off.
I work in fundraising, so I certainly don’t mind making a donation here and there – I know how hard it is. The grocery store deals and 50/50 tickets at hockey games and such are great fundraisers for small non-profits, but they don’t really rake in the dough for one that has a larger overhead. Makes me wonder why Feed NS would be essentially panhandling.
My conclusion though, is that when the going gets tough, they need to resort to ways they haven’t fundraised before, so they’re not always asking the same donors. For example, if they do a campaign now asking the same people they usually ask at Christmas, they might find themselves even shorter then. Better yet, they don’t need to employ resources to receipt people this way.
Should Feed Nova Scotia hire a marketing company to do their fundraising they’d see only 20% of funds donated. Feel confident 100% of your money collected in this way is utilized by the program.
hollah!, I also support non-profits and agree, there are many avenues of fundraising that Feed Nova Scotia has failed to utilize. I know because I proposed them in person and they didn’t even bother calling me back! I took my proposal to another non-profit actually interested in getting help so I think Feed Nova Scotia needs to consider the resources right under their nose before they hit the streets.
The number of hungry Nova Scotians is skyrocketing, donations are dwindling, and the organisation’s warehouses are low and/or empty going into the toughest (coldest) time of year. Feed NS needs every cent they can get.
Does anyone know if they ever received the same 100% tax break that Neptune Theatre did? They asked council to reconsider. The arts are important – I’m not slagging the arts – but a not for profit that feeds people seems more deserving to me.
I saw some on Quinpool Road yesterday on the island-medians in the middle of the street and was a bit turned off. Feed NS is a charity I do believe in supporting, however, the tactics used to raise funds that are learned from panhandlers really lowers the credibility of the organization and makes them look cheap and even a bit stupid.
In the future, I hope Feed NS can think of better means of fundraising and securing donations. Not only does the learned behaviour from panhandlers make them look bad but its also very unsafe for employees and volunteers!
Feed NS could imploy better strategies for fundraising…and leave the panhandling to those who need it…….
you mean the people who think I should pay for their booze, pot, lotto and bus tickets?
Yeah…when I saw them at the same island NGF saw them at with their water bottle with change I thought it was a bit tacky…
And, Kay, not 100% of those funds do go to the cause — administrative costs for no profits take on average 25% of all funds raised. Some are lower though like United Way that has a 15% administrative take from raised funds.
ok so i ask.. when was the last time anyone whos commenting donated food/money to feed ns?(outside of them standing on the street?)
I’ve never donated to them.
While I’ve already stated (in several topics here) how much begging pisses me off, especially when the beggers are younger & look to be in physical better shape than I am. My real beef is a ‘special’ law made to keep people from begging with squeegees or at intersections….BUT it’s OK for feed NS, or Dal students or Shriners to go to these same intersections & beg !
Fuck that ! If your going to single out one group of persons from an activity, & the powers that be, have gone through the stupidity of making it LAW. Then IMO everyone should have to abide by that .
I have & do support the childrens hospital, the Actors fund of Canada, & I have donated to the Cancer Society, when they come door to door on several occassions. That’s it for me, what others do is their business. I really don’t give a shit if your starving…go work for food. You drive by those food kitchens esp the one in Dartmouth on Octaloney St. & most of the guy’s are outside smoking socializing & waiting for their free handout…go downtown to the several bars on lower Portland street later & you’ll see the same guy’s in the bars drinking, playing machines. That’s how they wish to live…good for them, But none of my money is going to help out.
Have you ever been realllllly hungry? Like, to the point where it feels like your stomach has resorted to eating itself?
I just ran into “no-small-change-guy”on SGR.
Lousy bastard tried to get me to stop and entertain his petty requests for “bus fare” – which is actually beer money. Instead I snapped, “Don’t even ask,” and gave him my mean-Indian-glare.
Covering administrative costs IS going to “the cause”, Kitty. I was demonstrating the distinction the Charitable Fundraising Business Act makes when soliciting for funds on BEHALF of charities versus soliciting for funds AS the charity. The charity MUST see at least 20% of funds collected by a third party. IE ChildFind… if you shop at WalMart and some campaign is going on in the lobby to raise funds for ChildFind only 20% of funds raised this way will be given to ChildFind by the “marketing company” hosting the Walmart campaign. In this case the charity is hosting the fundraiser so rest assured 100% of your donation is going to their cause. Get it now?
One of the first bitches I ever posted was one about this squeegee law. I think it’s wrong the government steps in to do the talking for otherwise educated and charitable Canadians in making the question illegal. How is it okay when you’re a registered charity? In my opinion, it is not okay. In fact, if I’m lucky enough to be solicited directly I’ll be asking why they don’t think to clean my windows for said “donation”. Piss me off…. “some pigs are more equal than others.” [Lord of the Flies]
Maybe Feed Nova Scotia is using this tactic to make a point. Maybe they figure collecting change like panhandlers for Feed NS will address the common complaint about panhandling: “I don’t know where my money goes”. Now those inclined to donating to panhandlers can donate in the same way to Feed Nova Scotia.
Kay, I think that quite is from Animal Farm. “We eat pig” is from Lord of the Flies.
You’re right, Animal Farm. My bad.