It must suck to go through life being so petty.

Anonymous wrote:My son’s preschool is at a church. They gave an Easter egg hunt. Each child is supposed to take 10 eggs. I see LatinX families every year take a freaking pillow case full of eggs and candy. No one cares.

Honestly, if your life is at the point you’re scamming for cheap candy and $5 backpacks, you need it way more than I need the $20 I spent on school supplies or donated candy.

OP - take a moment and think about what type of life situation you would have to be in to drive to multiple events and get multiple backpacks because you know you can’t afford to replace supplies that get lost or broken during the year. Think about a family that maybe gets 2 toys for tots toys. How many toys do your kids get at Christmas? Maybe the parents save one for the kids’ birthday. These parents are just trying to provide a little joy and normalcy in their kids’ lives. Give them a break.

Yep, if anyone is doing this (and how would OP know they were?), maybe they aren’t after the free backpacks. Maybe they are hoping to get enough loose leaf filler, crayons, and pencils to last the whole year?

My son’s preschool is at a church. They gave an Easter egg hunt. Each child is supposed to take 10 eggs. I see LatinX families every year take a freaking pillow case full of eggs and candy. No one cares.

Honestly, if your life is at the point you’re scamming for cheap candy and $5 backpacks, you need it way more than I need the $20 I spent on school supplies or donated candy.

OP - take a moment and think about what type of life situation you would have to be in to drive to multiple events and get multiple backpacks because you know you can’t afford to replace supplies that get lost or broken during the year. Think about a family that maybe gets 2 toys for tots toys. How many toys do your kids get at Christmas? Maybe the parents save one for the kids’ birthday. These parents are just trying to provide a little joy and normalcy in their kids’ lives. Give them a break.

Anonymous wrote:I know that one local charity I support, Bridges to Independence, has changed the way they do this because they recognize that every kid doesn't need a new backpack every year.

So if this bothers you, look for charities that do it differently.

Hopefully, they are distributing high quality backpacks that can survive multiple years of normal kid wear and tear.

I know that one local charity I support, Bridges to Independence, has changed the way they do this because they recognize that every kid doesn't need a new backpack every year.

So if this bothers you, look for charities that do it differently.

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.

Thank you and your church for being caring.

Keep in mind that parents might choose a larger backpack for a younger child because the child also needs to be able to fit items other than school supplies in it.

One tip to future donors might be to purchase only larger bags.

People who can afford to buy supplies etc generally do not have the time or energy to run scams to get that stuff for free. I mean, I pay extra for Amazon to bring me a two pack of something I only need one of, so I don't have to deal with the store -- you think I'm going to go around picking up donated backpacks?

If you assume the people being helped actually need help, you will be correct at least 90% of the time if not 100%.

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.

Do you really think moms go around getting multiple bags of school supplies? What would they do with the extras?

And also, the teacher is right. These backpacks don't last. My son's Walmart backpack ripped halfway through the year.

OP, are you looking to actually help kids, or looking to just avoid helping the parents whose lifestyle you don’t agree with?

I live in an area with quite notorious social issues (no where near DC). What I’ve learned is that despite the fact that the parents seem to “live large”, the reality is still that these children, and in reality, these families, are very much in need. In many cases, despite what parents “could” afford by some standards, they usually don’t /won’t / can’t. The children still need backpacks, school supplies, electricity, nutritious food, warm clothing, and holiday gifts.

Don’t punish them for the choices of their parents.

From another standpoint, I do get your complaint. A few years ago, some of the conditions for holiday hampers changed here, and the griping on the internet was insane.

I thought this thread would be about the weekend backpacks that have food, single serving meals for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in them. I understand that they aim to make the meals not-too-appetising so they aren't stolen.

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.

This. They are the $5 bags, not $50.

OP, as a general rule, your first reflex must always be to think that these donations are needed. You seem to be stuck on the “Welfare Queen”-type scenario: did you know this concept was completely manufactured by Reagan and has never had any basis in fact? Please register what the teacher wrote above, it’s all true. People hardly never donate good quality things.

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.

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.