Charity solicitations at intersections

[yasmina]

I REALLY hate these. I feel like there is no way to avoid them.

I heard an interview a while ago with a law enforcement officer who said that these kinds of solicitations are illegal and dangerous (at least in PA).

The only time I've ever given money to people collecting at stop lights is right after 9/11 and the local fire department was collecting money in their boots.

I'm sure the organizations collecting $ this way are legit and sincere, I just hate being held captive while I wait for the light to change.

 

[MushyMushy]

They do that in Morgantown at the absolute busiest intersections and it seems so dangerous! I only ever gave them money one time, but most of the time I just smile and shake my head no. It's always a church.

I don't think they should be permitted to do that, especially where they are.

 

[Tazicket]

Like you, the only ones I've ever donated to at intersections are our local firefighters. I worry about them and think it's crazy dangerous. Most of the time (if it's a different group out there), I pull a Michael Bolton from Office Space and try to discreetly roll the window up and pretend I'm not there.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I would think that they would be dangerous as well. I donate if I'm stopped, but what drives me nuts is when the light is green and people stop to donate-you could get rear ended!!

 

[KelNottAt]

I REALLY hate these.

{snip}

I'm sure the organizations collecting $ this way are legit and sincere, I just hate being held captive while I wait for the light to change.

I hate them more than you do and I'm not so sure they're all legit.

I once asked a guy to show me his 501c3 designation and his solicitation permit. He didn't know what I was talking about.

I also resent the travel teams fundraising in front of the supermarket. Why should I feel compelled to buy a raffle ticket just so you can reduce expenses for your next tournament? If you can't afford to travel then play local rec ball.

 

[DoeWDW]

I refuse to donate in this manner. I figure if everyone else refused, they'd stop. The only reason they're still out there in traffic is because it WORKS and people actually give money.

I donate to plenty of charities, but this method of raising money is just plain dangerous.

 

[WDSearcher]

I also resent the travel teams fundraising in front of the supermarket. Why should I feel compelled to buy a raffle ticket just so you can reduce expenses for your next tournament? If you can't afford to travel then play local rec ball.

You aren't compelled to buy the raffle ticket any more than you are compelled to purchase Girl Scout Cookies or any other charitable item. But the bottom line is that what the groups are doing is legal. And, just as they have the freedom to ask you for a donation, you have the freedom to say no. Seems silly to "resent" sports teams for asking for money. They're only asking, and it's still your decision.

 

[Todd&Copper]

There used to be a lot of solocitation & panhandling at certain intersections in Annapolis, but our County Executive introdced a bill that did away with it (safety reasons). I really resented it, and I absolutely hated it when some sucker would dig around in his/her car for a donation, totally unaware that the light had changed.
There was an incident about a year ago in which some people were soliciting donation in the name of a particular church, and when drivers declined to donate, some of these solicitors got very nasty with them. Well, the drivers called the church to complain about the rudeness and the church was all, "Um, what solicitors? We're not collecting donations at the corner of X St. and Y Ln. We don't do roadside donations."
And we had our fair share of "disabled vets" who asked for doantions at stop lights as well.
It is so much better now. When the weather is nice (and we have had a few 60 - 70 degree days in the past month!) I can roll down the window and enjoy the fresh air and not have to worry about rolling it back up at an intersection.

 

[eh24fan]

I HATE trying to go to the grocery store only to be hounded at the door to buy Girl Scout cookies, raffle tickets, etc. My son's football league makes the kids do it and I won't allow my son to stand outside a store begging for money from strangers. Not gonna happen. I pay the registration fee for him to play.

 

[Angelhalo]

I don't mind the ones in the intersections at all. Unless it's a charity that I know and love, I just politely shake my head no and move on with life. They ARE human beings after all, I don't want to just ignore them like they aren't even alive.

The ones I HATE are the ones in front of Wal-Mart and the grocery store. I'm like, can I please JUST ONCE go in to buy my items without being begged for money at the door. I can handle the girl scouts, at least they're selling something. But, a lot of the time its just marching band kids, sports teams, etc who are just asking for money. I'm like come on! You could have at least done a car wash or sold candy bars or something! Don't just stand there and beg for my money and offer me nothing. I just want to enter the store unbothered!!!!

 

[KelNottAt]

You aren't compelled to buy the raffle ticket any more than you are compelled to purchase Girl Scout Cookies or any other charitable item. But the bottom line is that what the groups are doing is legal. And, just as they have the freedom to ask you for a donation, you have the freedom to say no. Seems silly to "resent" sports teams for asking for money. They're only asking, and it's still your decision.

I can resent it if I want. Sports teams are not charities.

And yes, when you live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, you become the bad guy for declining to support the team. People talk. That makes it pretty compelling.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I HATE trying to go to the grocery store only to be hounded at the door to buy Girl Scout cookies, raffle tickets, etc. My son's football league makes the kids do it and I won't allow my son to stand outside a store begging for money from strangers. Not gonna happen. I pay the registration fee for him to play.

be warned.... girl scout cookie sales should be starting very soon. We will some some of the 'beggars" outside of my local grocery store next month.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

the only ones who do the intersection thing here are the firefighter's boot campaign - I have no problem with that.

I don't mind the kids in front of the stores either - a polite "no thank you" and a smile is all that is necessary - no big deal. The kids are never pushy and usually seem to be having fun. It isn't begging to me if you are getting something for your money, that is selling.

 

[Angelhalo]

the only ones who do the intersection thing here are the firefighter's boot campaign - I have no problem with that.

I don't mind the kids in front of the stores either - a polite "no thank you" and a smile is all that is necessary - no big deal. The kids are never pushy and usually seem to be having fun. It isn't begging to me if you are getting something for your money, that is selling.

I agree with the selling part. If you're selling something you're ok in my book. It's the uber pushy obnoxious teens in the marching band or sports teams who beg for money and offer me nothing who really burn my butt.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I agree with the selling part. If you're selling something you're ok in my book. It's the uber pushy obnoxious teens in the marching band or sports teams who beg for money and offer me nothing who really burn my butt.

I see your point - around here they are always selling something - maybe our groups aren't allowed by the school to just ask for straight out donations, as I have never seen that...not sure I care for that either now!!! The only time I have seen a call for donations like that is in the newspaper fro large trips or a real need. If kids are out door to door or at the mall they are selling something.

I think the mall/store sales are necessary because they really do not want kids doing door to door for safety reasons - DD does our cul-de-sac only because we know everyone.

 

[Mkrop]

I REALLY hate these. I feel like there is no way to avoid them.

I heard an interview a while ago with a law enforcement officer who said that these kinds of solicitations are illegal and dangerous (at least in PA).

The only time I've ever given money to people collecting at stop lights is right after 9/11 and the local fire department was collecting money in their boots.

I'm sure the organizations collecting $ this way are legit and sincere, I just hate being held captive while I wait for the light to change.

I dont think these are illegal in PA. We get Penn State Kids for Cancer collecting money in buckets at intersections all the time.

As for the sports teams, I felt the same way that if your kid wants to play then pay until my next door neighbors team had the oppotunity (he never thought they would make it to the finals when he formed the team and joined this basketball league) to go to Orlando. Well about 75% of his team could afford it on their own, the other 25% they made possible by one car wash and then just standing outside the convience store with buckets. They had time constraints so they could not do another car wash or sell anything else.

I really dont think a kid should be denied an opportunity to play on a higher level team (which is what travel teams are at least around here) bc they dont have the financial means to do so and participate in all the other things as well.

And no none of my kids play on travel teams, they do rec.

 

[Crankyshank]

There's been an increased amount of charity solicitations at one particular intersection that drives me nuts because it's so dangerous. It's right in the middle of downtown at a stoplight before 2 major on ramps not far from 3 hospitals. I'm very surprised no one has been killed standing in the middle of the road like that.

I refuse to donate when people approach my car. There's also panhandlers that like to approach cars at one particularly busy intersection.

 

[jmkms]

I dont think these are illegal in PA. We get Penn State Kids for Cancer collecting money in buckets at intersections all the time.

This is what we always have around here. Especially on the busy highways where it does seem very dangerous.

DH wants to ask them just once where the party is that night!

 

[Camicar]

I loathe these solictiations and refuse to donate a penny bec (1) it's organized begging. If I wanted to deal with that, I'd move to the Bahamas or India. And (2) it's like feeding a stray cat.

 

[Lintasare]

In my neck of the woods we have kids out at NIGHT at gas stations trying to sell stuff out of Rubbermaid bins. They say it's for a local kids group but I have never heard of the group. They are so rude and pushy. When I say no they still try to sell saying that they take checks and credit cards. Ok...no way am I giving a check with my bank information or my credit card to a little snot at a gas station at 9 at night. I only do GC cookies, BS popcorn and school fundraisers. At least then I know where my money is going.