Nice idea! I'd think you'd be surprised at how many people actually go for it.

Take the toys and donate them to a women's shelter.

Sorry, it would feel so condescending and holier than thou to be told to bring donations for a food bank to a birthday party. I volunteer at one and don't need someone feigning pious dedication to the cause by using a birthday party to collect cans that the people at the food bank don't even want.

One of my kids wanted to collect diapers for the DC diaper Bank for her 10th birthday. She was so proud to drop off the diapers and any comments from the guest parents were positive. We have gone to other parties where we brought gifts for the local animal shelter. I far prefer to spend money buying a gift like that than on another Target gift card for kids who don't need a thing.

I actually really like it. We just attended a party where all the kids brought food for the Backpack Blessings program. I much prefer that to another party where we were asked to write a check to a specific charity.

No! You don't tell people how to spend their money. End. Of. Story.

We've been to one. We brought some cans but my child really wanted to pick out something for her friend so she brought a small book too. I get feeling overrun with presents but I would prefer somethings like "please no gifts" over the specific donation. And yes, my kids would still want to pick out or make something for the birthday child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so offended by people telling me where to donate. We don't always support the same charities.

Also, I'm incapable of showing up to a party empty-handed.

The most polite way to show up is the way the host asked you to.

No it's not. Mentioning gifts is rude of the host to begin with. Guests aren't personal shoppers. They are guests.

I always feel sorry for the poor kids whse parents turn their birthday parties into a political statement with the whole food bank thing.

Anonymous wrote:I am so offended by people telling me where to donate. We don't always support the same charities.

Also, I'm incapable of showing up to a party empty-handed.

The most polite way to show up is the way the host asked you to.

I am so offended by people telling me where to donate. We don't always support the same charities.

Also, I'm incapable of showing up to a party empty-handed.

We use the phrase " no gifts please" on our invitations. We don't dictate where people should donate or otherwise.

Please don't. Take the gifts, give her some now and spread them out during the year. Her birthday is not a place to fund raise for your cause. Let her be a child and celebrate.

No insult intended but food banks are functioning places not birthday party venues. We don't allow minors under 28 to volunteer at ours and don't allow one time volunteers - especially one time one hour volunteers. It would take a host of real volunteers to "help" the kids "help"..... So not actually " helpful" at all

How about you bring all 30 kids out to volunteer at the foodbank for an hour or two and then treat everyone to pizza after, or you can even skip the pizza after.

That would be really radical, and actually involving your daughter and her friends in something.

DC has a Spring birthday party. She wants to invite her entire class her birthday party at one of the parks close to home. She doesn't need 30 birthday presents. She's 6. I spoke with her about donations to the foodbank instead of gifts and she liked the idea.

Is this a crazy or weird idea?

Not sure how to word the invitation.