Thursday, March 5, 2015

Enough With the Ducks Already!

Ok...so I admit I said the F word, but only because it rhymed with Ducks


Mica and Isaak brought home this form for Jump Rope for the Heart
 
I don't ask anyone to donate unless it's my parents. Even then I lean into my Mom and say, "Just donate $5 a kid. You don't have to donate $25 like they say on the form!" Adding up all the grand kids = a lot of money.
 
Right away Mica was like, "I need to earn $200." 
 
I told him, "No!" 
  
He said, "But Mom I get this prize" - Pointing to some duck on the page.
 
I said, "That duck is worth $1, and will end up in the trash!" 
  
He said, "But Mom it helps save lives!" 
 
I said, "Really Mica! You don't know this, but most of that money goes towards the workers at the non-profit; not to save lives like it says." 

He said, "Fine! I'll put in my money from my bank." 

I said, "Hell no you won't." 
 
It's sweet he wanted to use his own money, but no his money is for his future. His interest in raising money wasn't to save kid's lives. It was to get prizes.
 
I then said, "You'll raise money, but it won't be a lot this year. Remember that Dad lost his job. We're doing things to cut out funds, so we will do alright. He'll get a job eventually, but we don't know when." 
 
He said, "But you have a job."
 
Apparently he didn't get it. 
 
School fundraisers are great, but this year because of our status they are pissing me off. Mica feels like he needs to do them to win prizes. He's missing the point as to what they are all about. I wish he could just get it. Isaak seems fine with a little. Mica's always been more materialistic.

There was Scholastic Fair at the school to. I refused to buy any books. I didn't even walk in the room. Why? To save money. Plus we just had 2 gigantic boxes of books given to us from my oldest nephew. We don't need any more books right now.
 
If I had money to give I'd donate to SOFT. Their website is awful in its design. They help with research for kids that have chromosome problems like my nephew Emerson. Even if their funds go to their workers that's ok in my book. They hire people like my sister that have kids with chromosome problems to work with them. 
 
I'd donate to something art related. Why? Because art and music is getting cut here and there from elementary schools. I feel strongly that it helps kids work that side of the brain that doesn't get worked otherwise.
 
Am I anti Jump Rope for the Heart? No! My Dad's had heart issues half his life. I just don't have the funds to help with anything much right now. I'm really careful about who I donate to. I want to make sure my money goes to the cause. 
 
Too many people start non-profits, and the person that started them to begin with makes a whole lot of money. The Goodwill is like that. The guy that started The Salvation Army on the other hand only allows himself to make $40,000 a year. I just learned to research before I throw money out there. My students do a campaign for a non-profit every year. I've had to research a lot of them. 
 
Are you picky about where your money goes?

7 comments:

The Cranky said...

Very picky; too many folk do it for the wrong reasons.

Ai Sakura said...

Yes I'm picky too. Mainly because there are so many out there, and also I think that people must make an effort to help themselves first before relying on other people's aid.

Ai @ Sakura Haruka

Masshole Mommy said...

I am completely against this sort of school fundraiser. It's not cool to tease the kids with a "cool" prize and then tell them they can't have it unless they collect some outrageous amount of money. I don't do school fundraisers at all anymore.

mail4rosey said...

Skipped the pizza kits, skipped the $25 carnival, skipped the auction baskets, and I'm skipping the school run. I do however always buy from Scholastic, the book fair, donate time in the classroom, and donate tons of box tops.

I was getting stresses at the constant asks for money last year, and felt compelled to give, give, give. This year, I just don't. I am way happier about it too.

Theresa Mahoney said...

There's one that pisses my mom off every year. Around Thanksgiving the kids are told they have to sell $50 of Yankee Candle in order to go to the school dance. As a single mom to 2 of her grandkids, that's a lot for her to take on, especially during the holidays. It is wrong on so many levels to punish a child because they can't sell enough shit for the school. I HATE school fundraisers and refuse to participate, with the exception of Mariah's a few years back where she sold Port-O-Pit in order to place the Easter Wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. And that was only because it was a once in a lifetime experience!

~ Noelle said...

I know what you mean... it seems like every time you turn around we are having a different fundraiser. It gets annoying after time.

Eat To Live said...

I am very picky about where my money goes. I don't give to most charaties... you are so right... they never see the money.

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