Enough fundraisers!!!

[luvmy3]

Hi All, My DD school runs a year long fundraiser. We sell gift cards, and the school makes a small profit off of each card. What better way to raise money for a school than to purchase something where you are going to be spending money anyways. Here is the link.

http://www.shopwithscrip.com/index.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

If anyone wants some more information, please PM me.

Our school does this too.
We also participate in cartrides for kids, its a recycling program for things like cell phones, digital cameras, video games and consoles. We also do box tops, campbells soup labels and Tyson, and we have a school night at a few local restaurants. I can't understand why we still have to sell the $10 wrapping paper and the $15 (awful) candy I wouldn't mind doing some of the things mentioned here, but I hate having to sell the overpriced junk to people who most likely have their own family member selling the same thing.

 

[SalandJeff]

Dd just started Kindergarten and came home with the fundraiser the first day of classes. I gave it to my immediate family, but that's as far as it goes. She had fundraisers last year for preschool and daycare. It's too much. As others have said, you would have to ask the same people to buy over and over. We went to open house at school tonight and the principal said that if people wanted to skip the fundraiser and make a monetary donation instead, that would be appreciated.

Our PTA is also $5 to join. They have not had a meeting yet, so maybe there will be some new ideas to raise money (the CROCs idea sounds great!).

 

[Erin1700]

Catalog of Crap came home in my kid's backpack...anyone want to buy something? Hurry before it gets burried in the trash can!

 

[bethy]

I just write a check for each one. The school ends up with more money that way and I get a tax deduction and am spared the junk!

Luckily our school only has two fund raisers: a walk-a-thon and an evening fancy auction event. I actually truly enjoy the auction event so I'm happy and I just write a check for the Walk a thon. We never ever solicit from friends and family or from anyone.

 

[jennifer293]

Where my DD's school gets you is that they have these fundraisers and if the child sells a set amount they get to participate in something fun (ex. get min. of $25.00 raised for walkathon and get to come to the carnival) if the child does not raise enough money then they have to sit in class and do work while everyone else plays. That to me is not fair because a lot of the kids in DD's school are on free and reduced lunch and parents just cannot afford it. I don't think the child should suffer. I know of about 8 kids in DD's class that will not get to participate.

 

[bethy]

Where my DD's school gets you is that they have these fundraisers and if the child sells a set amount they get to participate in something fun (ex. get min. of $25.00 raised for walkathon and get to come to the carnival) if the child does not raise enough money then they have to sit in class and do work while everyone else plays. That to me is not fair because a lot of the kids in DD's school are on free and reduced lunch and parents just cannot afford it. I don't think the child should suffer. I know of about 8 kids in DD's class that will not get to participate.

That is unconscionable!!!

 

[happy_redhead]

I couldn't agree more...those fundraisers are horrible. My biggest issue with them is the fact that the companies that provide the fundraiser opportunity are making 50 to 60% of the sales....it is now a multi-billion dollar industry. I'd rather just write a check and know that ALL of my money is going to the school.

PTA's PTO's are losing track of what the organization started out to be. The goal used to be getting the parents involved with their children and their education. Now, it seems all they are out to do is see which schools PTA can buy the best playground equipment.

That being said.....the art department at my son's elementary school does a fundraiser...ART BY ME. They have an art project that they work on for several weeks (a picture drawn on special paper) and you can get that picture placed on garden flags, coffee mugs, trivets, tshirts, luggage tags and countless other things. My favorite is a refrigerator magnet. My frig is covered in my boys artwork and my coffee cups are covered in the same. The prices are reasonable and they make great gifts.

To get out of selling the crap, I only let my boys sell popcorn for the cub scouts. Pricey, but tasty

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Our schools let us just donate money to the PTA if you want instead of selling stuff.

The Band program just asks for a flat fee instead of selling stuff.

The Boy Scouts gives you a choice - sell popcorn or a flat fee.

I'm so glad they do that!

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I just write a check for each one. The school ends up with more money that way and I get a tax deduction and am spared the junk!

Luckily our school only has two fund raisers: a walk-a-thon and an evening fancy auction event. I actually truly enjoy the auction event so I'm happy and I just write a check for the Walk a thon. We never ever solicit from friends and family or from anyone.

I do this as well. It never occurred to me that I could/should and I always hated the over priced junk in the catalogs.
Now I just write a check send it in and remember to deduct it off my taxes!

 

[linmc1129]

Where my DD's school gets you is that they have these fundraisers and if the child sells a set amount they get to participate in something fun (ex. get min. of $25.00 raised for walkathon and get to come to the carnival) if the child does not raise enough money then they have to sit in class and do work while everyone else plays. That to me is not fair because a lot of the kids in DD's school are on free and reduced lunch and parents just cannot afford it. I don't think the child should suffer. I know of about 8 kids in DD's class that will not get to participate.

My DD's school does the same thing. If they sell 50 items for the wrapping paper, they will be treated to a McDonald's happy meal. Last year, they asked for donations for something (can't even remember). If you got $x, the kid got to go to the skating rink. I don't think it was a big amount, but still it's not really fair to the kids who can't afford it. There is no way we will sell 50 items. I get my wrapping paper much cheaper. They always get them so excited about all the prizes, too.
I'm not even sure how to vote for these things. Maybe we'll get a letter home about PTA meetings. We did not get any such notification last year (kindergarten). I like the idea many of you have- donate, and then no more sales! If I figure out when the PTA meetings are, I'd like to go, so I can be a bigger part in DD school. I guess I could call the school.

 

[imthatgirl]

Where my DD's school gets you is that they have these fundraisers and if the child sells a set amount they get to participate in something fun (ex. get min. of $25.00 raised for walkathon and get to come to the carnival) if the child does not raise enough money then they have to sit in class and do work while everyone else plays. That to me is not fair because a lot of the kids in DD's school are on free and reduced lunch and parents just cannot afford it. I don't think the child should suffer. I know of about 8 kids in DD's class that will not get to participate.

i think thats awful. it wouldnt make me do it though. i would just keep my child out of school that day.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

DD14 just started high school. She came home the first day with a note that it cost $20 to join the PTO but that meant that there would be no fundraisers. We happily wrote that check out and sent it in!

The next day DD14 comes home with a FUNDRAISER for Orchestra! Guess the special area classes aren't included in that promise of no fundraisers. The Orchestra paperwork stated that they would have FOUR fundraisers this year. UGH. The students also get a "participation grade" for the fundraisers so if DD doesn't sell anything she gets a zero.

 

[kathianne]

i think thats awful. it wouldnt make me do it though. i would just keep my child out of school that day.

That's really the best way to handle it. Don't make an issue of it, or they will just make things worse on your child. I certainly wouldn't have my kid "sit in the corner" for not meeting a fund raiser goal, but I would NOT protest to the PTA, either. Remember, those women live and breathe those programs, don't take their fun away, or your child will suffer! Just don't play their silly little game!

 

[SalandJeff]

Where my DD's school gets you is that they have these fundraisers and if the child sells a set amount they get to participate in something fun (ex. get min. of $25.00 raised for walkathon and get to come to the carnival) if the child does not raise enough money then they have to sit in class and do work while everyone else plays...

...The next day DD14 comes home with a FUNDRAISER for Orchestra! Guess the special area classes aren't included in that promise of no fundraisers. The Orchestra paperwork stated that they would have FOUR fundraisers this year. UGH. The students also get a "participation grade" for the fundraisers so if DD doesn't sell anything she gets a zero.

Both of these scenarios amount to nothing more than blackmail I don't understand how the teachers, principal and parents who are supposed to care about these children can allow such a thing. I would be on the phone to the principal, chairman of the board of ed, and PTO president so fast their heads would be spinning.

 

[Tricia819]

My daughter's school runs the same crappy fundraisers year after year. The same tired fundraisers that every school in the area uses, so how are we supposed to sell any of the crap anyway when everyone just buys from their own kids/nieces/nephews/etc.

One fundraiser that other schools do that I wish my daughter's school would do is the Scripps program. The school gets gift cards at a discouted rate then resells them for face value. I buy so many gift cards in a year anyway and that way the school would benefit, but of course the school won't do it.

 

[jennifer293]

i think thats awful. it wouldnt make me do it though. i would just keep my child out of school that day.

Well the thing is that if I keep DD out on those days then she is counted absent, and it will be unexcused. Most of these "REWARDS" take place on Friday which is also the day that her class has spelling and math tests, so if she is out with and unexcused absence then she cannot take the test and receives a zero. She cannot afford a zero in the grade book...3rd grade is proving to be pretty challenging for her already.

 

[Ashley Kees]

YAY! Doing the "glad I homeschool" dance again!

 

[jennifer293]

After spending 4 hours a day helping her with homework everyday I am thinking maybe homeschooling wouldn't be so bad for us...

 

[Mickeypooh99]

We have 2 boys in school both doing the same fundraiser (selling junk) also they are both in cub scouts and selling popcorn. When they brought the school ones home begging to sell so many items to recieve prizes, I gave them and offer. I would buy them any toy at walmart up to $20.00 if they don't do the fundraiser. My 7 year old decided to do the fundraiser and try for the prizes, but my 6 year old decided on a toy from walmart. So we went to walmart and he picked out a $1.00 candy necklace. No fundraiser for him, and it cost me $1.00.

I also send in box tops, ink cartridges, and recycle in the paper gator to help raise money for the school.