Who put the 'fun' in fundraising, cause it sure the heck wasn't me. I'm not new to fundraising, I mean, I was a Girl Scout after all, but I was horrible at selling those cookies; the only people I had buy from me were my parents and myself (whatever I could afford from my allowance, just so I could hide them in my nightstand drawer and eat those caramel and chocolate cookie deliciousness in bed while reading the latest installment of the Babysitters Club. By the way, where were my parents when I was doing this? ). Anyway, I sucked at fundraising.
Apparently this tradition carries on. Flash forward to this weekend.
Me, walking timidly up to the door of our neighbors house, hoping maybe the lights were on as a precautionary measure, that they might actually be on some month long vacation in Greece, and lucky for me, I'm off the hook.
(knocking on the door ever so lightly; it opens... darn)
Hello (insert neighbors name if I just happen to remember it). I know it's been a while since we've seen each other (minus the daily waves from my windshield to yours). We are here asking you to help Henry's school. He's going to Chinese Immersion.
(I nudge Henry to the front).
I put him on the spot, trying to prove that their dollars would be going towards something exceptional "Say something in Chinese, Henry".
Henry backs away, moves closer to the door in a desperate desire to get out of their house. He shakes his head and looks down at the floor.
Pressing on and giving him the you-better-do-it-now-death stare, he comes up with a quiet little "Ni hao".
Oh yes, good times. We made it to 4 houses total, 1 of which wasn't even home.
Of course, as the good neighbors that they are (and because we have been subjected to their own children's fundraisers in years past when Henry wasn't in Kindergarten, i.e not fundraising) they paid the $20 cash for their own awesome little coupon book to be delivered in 4 to 6 weeks.
I can't wait to deliver those and I definitely can't wait for the next
I think fundraisers should be called 'makes-me-feel-like-crap-raisers' or perhaps 'suck-dry-your-neighbors-raisers'.
32 comments:
I'm not looking forward to those days. I'm with you... I felt like a loser doing it at 10 years old and my distaste has probably grown exponentially over the years, which means I may just burst into a ball of flames when asked to do it.
Yea! Try being the grandma of nine when it comes to buying cookie dough, make it go away. I would rather just give twenty bucks each.
I just go to my parents....let them buy up all the crap! Nothing is worse then going to your neighbors for your kids!
Oh Crap. Do you have any family you can hit up? I'm sooooo not looking forward to this.
LOL poor Henry! ;) It's good for him - and Chinese!? Wow! Ambitious little guy!
I think the schools would make much more money if they offered a buy out option on fundraising. I would totally pay the set fee at the beginning of the school year to buy out of having to do fundraisers. If every family donated $40 or whatever the set amount is they get the whole $40 times the number of families in the school instead of the 20% of whatever they make these kids go door to door selling. My son was actually expected to do a fundraiser for the PE department when he was in pre K and he didn't even get to go to PE!!!
Fundraisers would be so much better if they offered something other than cheesy wrapping paper, a box of chocolates, or some other useless item you don't need but feel compelled to buy to help out your co-workers children!
That's awesome about the Chinese! And fundraisers....they suck! And I suck at them! This new Brownie leader is not looking forward to them, plus all the school stuff they want us to try and sell. Ugh!!
Fundraisers are the worst...I always hated them!
I remember taking Grotbag to DAYCARE and finding a box of Fundraising chocolates thrust at me!! In Daycare!!! Couldn't believe it - all I kept thinking was 'ive got another good 14 years of this crap!!'
Least you have nice neighbours!!!
Ugh, I'm not looking forward to that part in our lives. As it is I am bombarded by requests from the kids at church. I have a strict one-box-of-cookies per kid, same goes with boy scout popcorn. But it sure does add up. Yuck.
OH - we just started our FUNdraiser. I hate the flyers that they send home with the kids, if you sell 10 you get this cool toy but if you sell 100 you get this COOLER toy! As if with twins we are going to sell 200 items!
I think fund raising at schools should be banned, great post.
I'm with you, I hate fundraisers. Do you know what I did with my daughters fundraising things that came home last week, they are peacefully resting at the bottom of my trash can, with lots of crinkled up paper and milk jugs on top so that they can't accidentally be spotted. I would rather just send the $20 to the office and let them do with it what they want.
And why can't kids be like performing monkeys and be cute on cue?
Fun post! And thanks for coming to see me today! I always love to have you!
Oh and how long are you leaving your give away "boogie wipes" open for? I had a thought for a post for friday that I thought I would put a link up to it if you haven't already "picked" a nice big juicy b... winner yet.
Let me know!
Sorry about your computer, I would die without mine!!!!
I have to say that one benefit of not getting to be a stay at home mom is that fundraisers are no surprise to the coworkers. The first time I sheepishly dragged out the catalog of way too expensive gift wrap, nuts and "cheese product" I was told to make sure everyone saw it.
When I was a kid my parents sent me off to knock on doors by myself in the 'hood. I've driven through the area recently. I don't think it's much different, but I sure wouldn't do that to *my* kids... well, maybe the teen boy... occasionally... just once? *sigh*
Uggghhh...the fundraisers. We get hit up ALL the time!
And, we are supposed to be doing them with our 3 year old in daycare. I thought that their "funds" came from my monthly payment to them (which is pretty dang close to a mortgage payment)!
I hate fundraisers.
My son only had to do it once so far and we barely made a thing because I hate bugging people. Oh well.
This is the one advantage that mom's who work have. I alwasy do my kid's fundraising for them at work. At first my co-workers were hesitant to participate, and wanted to quiz me about what the funds were being raised for. I was honest and I told them that the school holds a pep rally and fills their little minds with excitement over prizes to be won won. The more you sell, the better the prize. I don't know what they want the money for and I don't care. I figure its the one consolation I can give him for me not being there to help him with his home work and feed him fresh baked cookies every day after school. I sell, sell, sell so that he can rake in the cheap platic loot they hand out. Resistance is futile, my baby wants a prize.
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Leigh
i am soooo with you on this sister! seriously i kinda get all clammy just thinking about it!
I was in band in junior high and high school and had to sell things a couple of times a year. I am so not looking forward to that with my kids.
The worst part, they have someone come and do this cool presentation with the great prizes you can get if you sell a lot, you get all pumped up and then you start selling and it sucks!
At a certain age, I was so sick of them that I quit participating anymore. I hated it.
We got our first fundraiser home in the backpack the other day and I when I opened it I cringed.
I HATED doing these growing up and never sold much if anything. I always ate more candy bars than I sold and had to come up with the money at the end.
We are at a point where most of the neighbors have kids selling the same stuff as ours, so I get off easy by explaining that to the kids. I hate fundraisers too! I really hate the weight some (cookie dough from school and girl scout cookies) of them pack on too. Worst part, I could live off of girl scout cookies...
This post is close to my heart... I used to work as a fundraiser at a YMCA, thus I chose to make a living preying off the guilt of others. I found it interesting that no matter the age or the "fundraiser" the solicitation process always remained the same. From selling cookies as a kid, to asking for major gifts for naming rights to a new 50 meter pool. The awkwardness you so accurately depicted NEVER goes away. At least for me it didn't!
Wow! We have some stupid fund raiser for "Fun Run" tomorrow. I put $5 in the envelope (thinking I was done) and the teacher kept sending it back with Calvin every day until yesterday...like...ooo...maybe I just forgot to keep going? And the bus stop parents (who I think are really machines) probably had some good conversation when I said "what the hell is this fund raising thing" the other day?!? The NERVE!
I so agree. I just ranted on this topic on my blog last week. Ughhh!
I hate doing any type of fundraising. I know it's important but man, it's utter bullshit.
Fundraisers bite! I would rather write a check any day!!!!
Oh man! I always sucked at fundraisers too. Hopefully the future days to come will only get easier/better.
it doesn't stop. my kid is in the seventh grade, and he is already telling me has a fundraiser to do and he needs five orders. we just moved here. the school said not to go door to door.
i told him to give it to his father and take it to work. if all else fails i will do the five stupid orders. yay.
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