Costume drive - is this typical?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:News flash, OP! Not everyone is you!!! Shocking, I know. I've got two older boys and a younger girl who is obsessed with everything pink and princessy. So yeah, I do have plenty of barely-used costumes in larger sizes to donate. If you don't, then don't donate. I genuinely cannot fathom someone actually wanting there to NOT be a donation drive just because you don't have anything to donate. If I am understanding you correctly, I think you are not a good person.

OP here: My point is that NO ONE is donating - it would make perfect sense if a ton of other families had left-over costumes from years past to hand down - or if they wanted to buy brand-new costumes - but since no one is donating at all, I have to wonder if this project is not working. Honestly, I'm trying to be a good citizen of my new school and participated in the September drive and will participate in Nov's food drive and the Winter coat drive and I don't mean to begrudge anyone a Halloween - just wondering if other schools do this, and if other parents consider this a necessity.

Like I said, they specifically want new costumes, with a caveat that they are "willing" to take used ones as long as they look like new.

They probably just want to avoid getting a lot of worn out junk.

That's where the sorting process comes in. There are so many barely used costumes out there- it's a shame!

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry but requesting new costumes is asinine. Totally entitled. They are expensive!

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is entitled. I don't give when there's that attitude, sorry.

[Anonymous]

OP said they'll take new or "like new" (which describes every used costume in our closets).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is entitled. I don't give when there's that attitude, sorry.

You realize that isn't the attitude of the children who would actually be receiving the like-new costumes, don't you? Or do you???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is entitled. I don't give when there's that attitude, sorry.

You realize that isn't the attitude of the children who would actually be receiving the like-new costumes, don't you? Or do you???

Yes, I think we all realize that. It's the organizers that will then sadly pass that attitude onto their kids, but that's another story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: they want new costumes. I just feel like we're being constantly asked to donate.

Yep, wait until the holidays. The requests ramp up.

We were in a 40% FARMs school. The request for free stuff for these kids was never ending. This despite the fact that already received a ton of free stuff from other welfare orgs. I stopped donating.

[Anonymous]

Second day at school for a DOD transfer overseas where I was teaching. Mom put a scarf and earrngs on her six year old and made her a "fortune teller". She was darling. Smart mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Second day at school for a DOD transfer overseas where I was teaching. Mom put a scarf and earrngs on her six year old and made her a "fortune teller". She was darling. Smart mom.

I stink at being creative. I'm always amazed at what people can come up with.

[Anonymous]

If they are willing to accept used costumes, sure. But to only want brand new isn't going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is entitled. I don't give when there's that attitude, sorry.

You realize that isn't the attitude of the children who would actually be receiving the like-new costumes, don't you? Or do you???

Yes, I think we all realize that. It's the organizers that will then sadly pass that attitude onto their kids, but that's another story.

OK see, no, you don't understand at all. Usually the organizers are not doing a costume drive for their own kids! In fact, it is unlikely that the person who organized the drive is going to be in any way positioned to "pass on" any type of attitude or values to a child who is in the unfortunate position of being in a family that cannot or will not procure a costume for him/her. Making such an illogical assumption is nothing more than an excuse to not participate. You don't need an excuse. Just don't participate. But I hope one day you're in a position to need charity from someone else. IT would do you a WORLD of good in the character department.

[AnaBanana]

Our school has a container in the lobby for people to drop off costumes of any size. It's like a take one/leave one kind of thing. Parents or kids can "shop" in the container for costumes and accessories. I think any that are left over are donated if the teachers don't want them for their classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is entitled. I don't give when there's that attitude, sorry.

You realize that isn't the attitude of the children who would actually be receiving the like-new costumes, don't you? Or do you???

Yes, I think we all realize that. It's the organizers that will then sadly pass that attitude onto their kids, but that's another story.

OK see, no, you don't understand at all. Usually the organizers are not doing a costume drive for their own kids! In fact, it is unlikely that the person who organized the drive is going to be in any way positioned to "pass on" any type of attitude or values to a child who is in the unfortunate position of being in a family that cannot or will not procure a costume for him/her. Making such an illogical assumption is nothing more than an excuse to not participate. You don't need an excuse. Just don't participate. But I hope one day you're in a position to need charity from someone else. IT would do you a WORLD of good in the character department.

If I need charity, I will take what I'm given.

[Anonymous]

I think this is poorly conceived campaign. Obviously the organizer thinks everyone should have new costumes and has specified. Maybe if you have an old costume to donate, email the organizer and say it is used, but there doesn't seem to be anyone signing up to give new costumes.

This sounds like a school which is not in touch with poorer families, even if there are poor families in school.

[Anonymous]

At our school a parent forwarded details of a costume drive to the parent list serv. the recipients were homeless children in DC.

yes, I do think this is a good cause. when your parent or parents are scraping by and can't even afford somewhere to live they aren't going to buy you a Halloween costume. yes, I do feel good about donating two brand new costumes so that other kids could get to join in something fun that they otherwise wouldn't be part of.