Geez...this would really put me off on this charity. Should've tried something like this...


Dear Donors,

Thank you for your continued support of our organization. Your generosity of both time and resources is making a huge impact in our community.

From time to time, we take stock of what is on our shelves and evaluate items of particular need. While we are so grateful for all donations, we would particularly appreciate the below:

- Ground beef (perfect to make Hamburger Helper, a favorite of our recipients!)
- Tubs of icing (we love to hand out cake mix and icing to make birthdays special)
- etc. etc.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for your support!

- Charity Director

donate money only, that is the best way to help a food bank as they can buy in bulk and get what they need and for a lot less money.

I think the cake kits are a good idea. There are plenty of things that you can substitute for eggs and/or oil. Bananas and applesauce for example, which I've personally received at various food pantries.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, that letter is rude and tone deaf. If I'd received such a letter, I'd respond and let them know that, and I would strongly consider donating elsewhere. I'm happy to donate whatever is needed by a food bank; it greatly helps when they're explicit about what they need. Need perishable items? Sure, just let me know. But there's a polite way to do this that doesn't risk alienating donors or would-be donors.

To those of you saying things like this: shame on you.
You are placing your feelings -which whatever, get over it- over the act of giving. Which is presumably why you participate in the first place? Or maybe not if you're that delicate over being told that your donations can't be used.

Big babies.

To those of you saying things like this: shame on you.
You are saying that people who are GIVING-which is something they don't have to do- deserve to be treated like garbage. Which is presumably something you must do otherwise you wouldn't feel the need to comment like this. Does it make you feel better to call people, who are GIVING out of the goodness of their heart, names?

Sack of garbage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, that letter is rude and tone deaf. If I'd received such a letter, I'd respond and let them know that, and I would strongly consider donating elsewhere. I'm happy to donate whatever is needed by a food bank; it greatly helps when they're explicit about what they need. Need perishable items? Sure, just let me know. But there's a polite way to do this that doesn't risk alienating donors or would-be donors.

To those of you saying things like this: shame on you.
You are placing your feelings -which whatever, get over it- over the act of giving. Which is presumably why you participate in the first place? Or maybe not if you're that delicate over being told that your donations can't be used.

Big babies.

Meh. There are so many places clamoring for donations. Too many actually, if one place can't get their act together and run smoothly there are many more out there. The poorly run and managed ones should go under and let the better ones fill the void. There isn't a lack of charities, there is a lack of donations and people should realize that.
Would be better if this was streamlined anyway rather than a patchwork of badly organized groups and incompetent people working at them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not punish the FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE because the people running the program are a**holes or used the wrong tone or whatever, am side eyeing every single person who wrote that.

The FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE can benefit from OTHER ORGANIZATIONS that I would be donating to instead of the a**hole one. I'm side eyeing you right back for thinking that it's ok to treat people who are GIVING YOU THINGS like garbage.

Please stick to charity galas. If you are so offended by that letter then you need to stick to organizations where you’re probably fawned over and worshipped.

I appreciate this comment. My take on the email was that it was direct and informative, and likely written by someone who doesn’t have either an UMC professional background or a communications team. It seriously blows my mind that so many people are reacting to it as though it was insulting on a deeply personal level.

X a million. They're the MILs giving money with strings that so many of them dislike. Grow up.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, that letter is rude and tone deaf. If I'd received such a letter, I'd respond and let them know that, and I would strongly consider donating elsewhere. I'm happy to donate whatever is needed by a food bank; it greatly helps when they're explicit about what they need. Need perishable items? Sure, just let me know. But there's a polite way to do this that doesn't risk alienating donors or would-be donors.

To those of you saying things like this: shame on you.
You are placing your feelings -which whatever, get over it- over the act of giving. Which is presumably why you participate in the first place? Or maybe not if you're that delicate over being told that your donations can't be used.

Big babies.