Will You Take A Cheque? by Dee Brun
‘Tis the Season! It’s not a holiday or special occasion, it’s not rabbit or duck season, or cold or flu season…no it is much, much worse. It’s fundraising season!
‘Tis the season to sell plant bulbs, wrapping paper, coupon books, chocolates and lord knows what else. There was one week where I swear I had about fifty kids knock on my door all selling the same coupon book. You try saying NO to 49 sweet faced children.
I made a decision a few years ago that I was NOT going to participate in any selling of goods related to my children. Now before I get stoned by all the fabulous committee moms and dads who organize these ventures, hear me out.
I have four kids, all of whom get some sort of book sale, popcorn sale, you name it sale – sent home on what seems like a weekly basis. They also do activities, activities to sell holiday cards, magazine subscriptions and chicken.
I understand that the school systems and activity centers are underfunded and rely on these types of fundraisers and respect that fully. So I will personally buy some books or tender breaded chicken breast every now and then, but one person only needs too many tulip bulbs. I will not, however, go door to door with my children asking people to purchase some of those tenderly breaded chicken breasts. Trust me, this does not make me a popular parent with those said committees.
So over the years of not being a team player, I have found it way easier to just set the bar low right off the start. When my kids get a new teacher or start a new activity I have a standard speech prepared that I deliver right off the top.
“Hi my name is Dee, I am Sam’s mom and I don’t do fundraising but I will gladly write you a cheque.”
This usually garners me some odd looks, sometimes a laugh but more often than not I get a frown and a big “But Why?”
So here’s why…
For starters I have four kids. If my family and friends bought something every time a request came through, they would all be broke…and most likely living with me…not good! My husband and I have no family in the city we live in. Our closest family is an hour and a half away. So how about I just cut you a cheque for the amount the gas would cost me to drive back and forth every time. Yeah yeah I know there’s mail… not the point.
Finally, my husband and I are both self-employed, we work from home. We have no office colleagues to hound and pester. We can’t break it up, mailroom for kid #3, accounts payable for kid #2. We only have a certain amount of people in our circle of friends, I can imagine they would quickly stop returning our calls if they thought we were pimping organic cleaners to them all the time.
So am I a bad parent for not participating? Is it not enough just to give them cold hard cash? Is that not the ultimate goal, raising money? Or is it to help the business move their product?
I don’t know that answers to any of these questions, nor do I really give a rats’ ass. All I know is if my cheques are no goo to them, I will gladly keep them. More money for my shoe budget!
Cheers!
Your Money’s No Good Here…on the rocks…
1 ounce Vodka
1/2 ounce Raspberry liqueur
1/2 White Cream de Cacao (chocolate liqueur)
2 ounces white cranberry juice
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain to a rock glass with a few ice cubes in it…Garnish with some fresh berries.
Dee Brun aka CocktailDeeva is the author Libations of Life, A Girls Guide to Life One Cocktail at a Time, resident Cocktail’ista on CBC’s The Steven and Chris Show; home entertaining columnist at Toronto Star Yourhome.ca; Home Entertaining Guru, writer, humorist, wife, mother of 4, TV Junkie, shoe-aholic and borderline George Clooney stalker.
6 Comments
SO agree… by the end of my DS’s sport years, we were just writing cheques also – same thing!?
I totally agree!
I have three kids and it’s non-stop fundraisers.
Here’s my biggest issue: Let’s say I give in and buy $50 worth of crap that I don’t want from the fundraiser. The school will probably get $5-10 from it. Maybe $25 if it’s a really generous company, but that’s rare.
I’d rather just hand the school $25. I’m spending less, they are getting more= win, win.
awesome and totally agree. Direct donation is just as good or better. I am no big fan of selling crap. Nor am I a fan of the constant drain on my money – pizza day, school photos, book catalogue from scholastic.
@inkscrblr
Absolutely hate fundraising. Our school actually sends home a note with the first request of the year, stating you can just write them a cheque, if you’d like. Brazen, but honest. We don’t go door to door and the only request I make of relatives is to renew their magazine subscriptions, with their discount cards, of course. And let’s not get started on the monthly book orders. Unfortunately, the most disheartening part for me this year was collecting for all the worldwide relief efforts, but not for poppies. That may have been the final straw for our household.
I buy items and donate or give them away if I am not going to use them. I remember how tough it was to sell stuff when I was a kid.
I completely agree. I have never allowed my kids to pester friends and family members to to purchase chocolate almonds that no one needs or scented candles or any of the other things that ‘everyone can use!’.
What’s worse are the inevitable family get togethers where that one family is pushing their child to sell to everyone at the Thanksgiving table….please stop doing that.