Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don’t like these fundraisers. Ditto for nieces and nephews hitting us up to support their sports, bands and scout activities. My income is similar to their parent’s income, so I find it ridiculous to be sending checks to them while supporting my own kids activities. I guess my kids could hit up their aunts and uncles, then checks would be passing each other…just seems like a waste.
FYI, it’s not because I’m not charitable. If a niece or nephew had a financial hardship, I would surely help, just as I’m happy to support numerous charities for THOSE IN NEED.
But this is about supporting the school, not just the child. Presumably there are kids in need, at every school, who benefit from the generosity of other families. This is just like all those other charities, for people in need, you claim to support. Do you not agree that supporting education is one of the most important things?
Anonymous wrote:I hate fundraisers that highlight wealth disparities among students. It's really gross to give prizes to kids whose families/friends can afford to donate and I'm surprised you would even participate. Just give directly to the PTA. If I were a grandparent, I'd decline buying a ticket but offer a donation. Elementary aged kids are certsinly old enough to understand why fundraisers that have a financial barrier to participation are just wrong.
Anonymous wrote:My DD is in 2nd grade and her school has an annual raffle fundraiser. People donate amazing prizes, but tickets are only $5 each and the 5 kids that sell the most tickets won a prices, as does the class that sells the most.
Every year I send an email and text to my extended family and DH’s which includes his parents, two aunts and uncles and his sister. And every year my parents and siblings each spend at least $50 buying tickets.
However, no one in DH’s family has ever bought an single ticket and I can’t understand why. They are all very financially secure so why not support their granddaughter? I made DH ask them the second year and they said they would do it but then never did.
Is this odd that not a single person in his family is willing to contribute just $5?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My family is pretty well off. I never ask them to donate to fundraisers for the kids. They are our kids, so we support the fundraisers. My family give the kids gifts for them, not fundraisers for their school, club, organization.
So, when there is a fundraiser, like the scouts popcorn drive, I send a note to my family and tell them I am ordering to help the kids fundraiser and I ask them if they want anything. They tell me what they want, I buy the items and send them to the family (if I can send from on-line I like it best, but if not, I have them all sent to me and I repackage and ship to the family). So the family get items from the fundraiser, to feel like they are supporting the kids, but they don't have to pay, I pay the fundraiser. If we don't want any of the items, I just send a check or electronic payment as a donation to the organization.
I hate those who try to shake down family for kids' activities. You support your kids activities, I'll support mine.
But you are shaking down your family! And why aren't your kids - the scouts that ostensibly can explain why they are selling popcorn to raise money - doing the asking? This is a really important learning opportunity for kids. Maybe I'm scarred because my parents never took my girl scout cookie sheet into their offices, and made me come in to do it.
Anonymous wrote:My family is pretty well off. I never ask them to donate to fundraisers for the kids. They are our kids, so we support the fundraisers. My family give the kids gifts for them, not fundraisers for their school, club, organization.
So, when there is a fundraiser, like the scouts popcorn drive, I send a note to my family and tell them I am ordering to help the kids fundraiser and I ask them if they want anything. They tell me what they want, I buy the items and send them to the family (if I can send from on-line I like it best, but if not, I have them all sent to me and I repackage and ship to the family). So the family get items from the fundraiser, to feel like they are supporting the kids, but they don't have to pay, I pay the fundraiser. If we don't want any of the items, I just send a check or electronic payment as a donation to the organization.
I hate those who try to shake down family for kids' activities. You support your kids activities, I'll support mine.
Anonymous wrote:This sounds so annoying OP. I don’t want to be buying random raffle tickets here and there. I don’t even buy raffle tickets for my own kids’ school. (In case you care, I’m not a free rider and make one large contribution at the beginning of the year to the PTA with the suggested amount).