Backpack handouts for needy kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and it’s a huge mindset some people even in schools have to avoid doing things or making policies that help the 85% of the kid population because they’re so damn worried about thwarting the 15% who might take advantage or fake it. Wow so some kid gets a new backpack they didn’t totally need. Who cares if 200 other kids who really needed one got one? You can’t spend your whole life only thinking about catching the “bad” because then you are incapable of actually serving and helping the good.

Oh but you can. If you try really hard enough, you can justify standing on the necks of those less fortunate when they’re down on the ground instead of offering them a hand up. If you do it often enough, it’s not even hard work after a while. Eventually you stop trying to justify it to yourself and you start judging others who don’t do it too. Those suckers who give out free backpacks to these users who hoard backpacks and school supplies are trying to ruin our country with their communism.

You think people giving charity out of their own pockets are communists? Not how communism works in theory or practice. Maybe in HS World History, you should have paid attention to the lessons rather than worrying if your classmates were hoarding free pencils.

Maybe you should’ve paid attention to how sarcasm works.

This is probably the worst example of “sarcasm” on DCUM today. I guess you were also distracted in English class.

New poster here. Actually it wasn’t. I caught the sarcasm immediately. Don’t try to pawn your lack of understanding on another person’s writing style. It reflects poorly on you

Also an NP, and totally agree. The sarcasm was obvious, and I don't understand how it could have been missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s Title I school distributed backpacks. We don’t need one and his first year, he went to grab one at open house and I tried to stop him. The counselor told me there were enough for all kids, and that if kids who don’t need them take them, too, it’s fine.

We replaced the freebies with a bigger, more sturdy one a couple of years later, though.

I would imagine most of the kids only use these backpacks for a year and then get a new one the next year, right?

Probably. What is your point? Np.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hosted one at my church last weekend. The bags are mostly really cheap.

Also, the backpacks weren’t pre-packed at our event, so the child (parent) chose a backpack, and then came over for the appropriate school supplies (we pulled lists by grade, and had bundles ready to go). The large backpacks were snatched up first, by kids who should have gotten a smaller bag. About halfway through, there were only small backpacks left, but lots of high school supplies.

I used to run one of the largest donation centers in the NY tri-state area & there is definitely protocol that should be followed when handing out donations. Otherwise if it's just done willy-nilly, the are tons of kids that miss out & you end up with overage of the least wanted items.

You have to remember that they're receiving something from others generosity & they don't get a say in what size they get. Sure, they can choose the color & design they want, but NOT size.

Your church should have NEVER allowed elementary school kids to choose large backpacks, as high schoolers are SO much more in need of them. They are a dire necessity for high schoolers, especially ones that are dependent on them to carry 10-20 lbs of books... they're not dire for kids in elementary school.

This could have been easily avoided by having the backpacks separated out by schools, then this wouldn't have been a problem.

You could have put all of the small backpacks on a table marked ELEMENTARY (in all caps) across the room put the medium backpacks on a table marked (MIDDLE SCHOOL) & the large ones go on a table manned by the most hard nosed member of your church (so they don't give it to empathetic stories) & mark that sign (HIGH SCHOOL ONLY). Keep the 3 tables in different areas of the room (one table in the front of the room, another in the back & the last off to the side). Separated and not in each other's eye line.

This way, the parents of elementary students won't see the bags that high schoolers are getting, because they're nowhere near each other.

If the parents ask for a large backpack instead, you tell them that they are strictly reserved for high schoolers only as you only have a certain amount. If they all of a sudden want to switch from elementary & say their kid is in high school now (I've heard it all), you make sure that ONLY high school items go in the high school bags.

I don't mean to sound unsympathetic & I'm truly, truly not, it's just I have a very big problem with anyone who becomes DEMANDING when they are there to receive something for free that someone else has donated to them out of the kindness of their heart.

There are so many ungrateful people in this world who feel entitled to get whatever they want (I'm not specifically talking about any one group, race, SES, etc, as entitlement spans across all demographics, rich & poor, white, black, beige & polka dot).

If you don't like what's being offered, feel free to buy your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sick of all these same people simply living off handouts, this country now has no incentive to lead a normal life style including a job.

Normal lifestyle including a job eh?

Just don’t ever get sick, or marry a vet with PTSD, or have a sick parent, or have a special needs child...

Yep.

I can attest from my own experience living in MoCo, you can work multiple jobs, live in a cheap apartment, ride the bus or walk, and do everything else legally allowed to make ends meet and still struggle to fill a thrift store backpack with dollar store school supplies.

Thrift stores aren't necessarily cheaper. The few I've gone to as well as consignment sales are more than I buy on clearance. However, the big issue is if you don't have a car/gas money or a credit card, its hard to budget as transportation is a huge issue. Target has markers on sale today cheaper than dollar tree for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sick of all these same people simply living off handouts, this country now has no incentive to lead a normal life style including a job.

Don’t donate then. The money is not coming out of your pocket so why do you care if a poor child can get a better chance at an education?

I don’t, my taxes are already paying for these free loaders. Wake up people.

You get government services for free like trash pick up, schools, police, roads, so you are a free loader too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s Title I school distributed backpacks. We don’t need one and his first year, he went to grab one at open house and I tried to stop him. The counselor told me there were enough for all kids, and that if kids who don’t need them take them, too, it’s fine.

We replaced the freebies with a bigger, more sturdy one a couple of years later, though.

They do it to make it more equal for all the kids and those who need them don't stand out. However, you decline and remind your child that you bought one and lets save them for the kids who need them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sick of all these same people simply living off handouts, this country now has no incentive to lead a normal life style including a job.

Normal lifestyle including a job eh?

Just don’t ever get sick, or marry a vet with PTSD, or have a sick parent, or have a special needs child...

Yep.

I can attest from my own experience living in MoCo, you can work multiple jobs, live in a cheap apartment, ride the bus or walk, and do everything else legally allowed to make ends meet and still struggle to fill a thrift store backpack with dollar store school supplies.

Thrift stores aren't necessarily cheaper. The few I've gone to as well as consignment sales are more than I buy on clearance. However, the big issue is if you don't have a car/gas money or a credit card, its hard to budget as transportation is a huge issue. Target has markers on sale today cheaper than dollar tree for example.

I didn’t buy my DD a thrift store backpack at Unique Thrift because it was cheaper than the $5 ones in 5 Below. I bought it because the $5 only last a couple months and you can find quality ones in decent shape at thrift stores in the $9-15 range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These seem to be done everywhere now by various charitable organizations. While I appreciate their intent, I wish there was a way to to know which kids actually need that backpack. When I was a kid, I used my backpacks until they broke apart. I didn't get a new one every year. I get that one of the reasons they are given is to be a bag for the school supplies also being given out. And I get that many of these kids live chaotic lives where the backpack may have been lost or destroyed or taken by their parents for their use. Still, I can't get past the idea that people are just being given these at will every year. Worse yet are the parents who go from event to event to collect all the backpacks from everywhere.

This is really a general complaint from those who seek to take advantage. The parents who go from event to event to get toys donated by Toys for Tots, etc. Instead of just going to one to get their toys.

I think there’s little fraud of this type.

As a teacher, I see that the donated backpacks are usually the super cheap kind that barely make it through 180 school days let alone multiple years. People rarely donate LLBean quality bags. They are usually the vinyl or plasticky type. The zippers break, the bottom of the bag rips or the straps come apart at the seams. I buy quality bags at the thrift store to give students who need a replacement.

Another issue is that the donated bags are often too small for what middle schoolers and high schoolers need. Our students are asked to carry a three inch binder and PE clothing. That doesn’t fit in the cute bags that people like to donate and chain stores often position near the register for that purpose.

+1 My son had a Swiss Army super-large and super-durable backpack that was torn to shreds after just one year of use (multiple binders, PE kits, lunch bag, other supplies).