Give a day will COST US MONEY!!!!

[cheekymonkey]

We also had to to put up funds for our volunteer activity. But the $42 it cost me was a lot less than the $240.70 credit I'm getting on our tickets! Not to mention that DD got the experience of volunteering

I would caution anyone who still haven't done their activities to make sure you are going to actually get your vouchers before you invest time/money. You may be volunteering without the reward (ok with some but not with all). I know someone who did recently sent in her Project Linus blankets and was told afterward that because the promotion had ended...she won't be getting her vouchers. Now this is NOT supposed to happen but apparently it is. I would double check with your coordinators.

Thanks for the cautionary note-I was a bit worried about this. We will certainly double check before we ship. Of course we will still donate our blankets but only to our local chapter.

 

[MKCP5]

While I understand that it's ideal to have one's expectations managed, I couldn't help but read this and think:

Heaven forbid someone actually volunteer and give of themselves to others and not be financially rewarded for it! I hardly think that would the worst possible outcome.

You are STILL not getting it! It isn't about helping, it is about being CHARGED to help!!!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I agree with one thing - they should have disclosed this in the description.

However, if I had done GAD, I would have expected to give quite a block of time and quite a bit of effort to truly help someone or some orgsnization. I would not have been one to look for the easiest and least time consuming way out or to get a "free" ticket. (not saying OP necessarily is). I would think that amount is pretty small given that there is very little time and effort required. That amount of money is pretty small considering what you are getting in return. However, I personally would look at it as giving 12 bucks to help someone, not as in trade for a park ticket. Not exactly in the spirit of the GAD promotion.

you (general "you" - not pointed to OP directly) should be expected to actually give SOMETHING, if not time and effort - then I guess money. However, as I said it should have been stated ahead so people didn't think they were getting such an easy out.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

While I understand that it's ideal to have one's expectations managed, I couldn't help but read this and think:

Heaven forbid someone actually volunteer and give of themselves to others and not be financially rewarded for it! I hardly think that would the worst possible outcome.

I agree with you but many won't see it that way

Thanks for the cautionary note-I was a bit worried about this. We will certainly double check before we ship. Of course we will still donate our blankets but only to our local chapter.

You should...esp since the person that this happened to was a Project Linus volunteer. She was happy that her blankets will get a good home but it is disappointing.

 

[crashbb]

We also had to to put up funds for our volunteer activity. But the $42 it cost me was a lot less than the $240.70 credit I'm getting on our tickets! Not to mention that DD got the experience of volunteering

I would caution anyone who still haven't done their activities to make sure you are going to actually get your vouchers before you invest time/money. You may be volunteering without the reward (ok with some but not with all). I know someone who did recently sent in her Project Linus blankets and was told afterward that because the promotion had ended...she won't be getting her vouchers. Now this is NOT supposed to happen but apparently it is. I would double check with your coordinators.

Isn't that kind of the point of volunteering? Doing it for the remuneration is work.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Isn't that kind of the point of volunteering? Doing it for the remuneration is work.

In general yes. But in terms of the GAD program- No. Bottom line a significant amount of the people who are doing GAD are doing it to get the ticket. I would like to see the figures on how many of the 1 million continue to volunteer at these agencies after they get their voucher Some will...sure. But certainly not all of them.

 

[gillenkl]

I think they should have told you upfront the cost involved. If it was me and I showed up I wouldn't have liked not being prepared to pay. So I wouldn't have had a problem with the idea of paying - it would have been the not knowing part and maybe not having the money on me at the time.

 

[CherylA]

I don't think it said anywhere on the project Linus info that we were supposed to supply our own material. I knew from all the info here but I don't think it was spelled out. I hadn't thought much about it and then I went to buy the fleece for my family of 4 to make blankets. Theres $80 I hadn't planned on spending. So I get why the OP is bummed but it's not like there are a lot of options, either you go do the opportunity and pay the $13 per person or you forget the idea of getting a GAD ticket. Kinda stinks but why dwell on something you can't change?

 

[Halloweenqueen]

For GAD, we picked up flyers for a food drive. We were given a neighborhood to cover. We hung the flyers on the doors on a Wednesday. We then went back on Saturday morning to collect. One house out of 30+ had food on their porch for us.

We were then supposed to drop it off at the collection center. We felt uncomfortable dropping off two bags of food (we had collected from our own pantry).

I had my husband stop by the supermarket and I bought about $50 of non perishable items to donate.

The people at the collection center were amazed at the response we got. lol


Spending $50 for 7 tickets was a super bargain imho.

 

[tiredsigh]

OP, it seems from your posts that you do volunteer outside of GAD and were looking for another opportunity to volunteer within your means. Was it the owner of the bear shop who was running the event? If so, I can see how you would think that the owner is trying to up business.

There is no reason to make the OP feel bad. From her posts, she was looking for a volunteer opportunity for her family that involved their time and not money. Unfortunately, the owner of the store was not very fothcoming in the original posting for the event.

It sounds like a funky opportunity anyway. The OP was looking for a chance to donate her hours of time. This opportunity was only about forking over money and 10 minutes of her time for a discounted ticket. She wanted to donate hours of her time. She seems to have good intentions. OP, I'm sorry you are in the situation.

 

[blessedby3]

I agree with the OP that the cost should have been stated up front to let people know. I wouldnt want to show up thinking I was going to stuff bears, and then have someone say- now give us a check for $XX.XX. That would have been $65 for our family.
I dont have a problem with providing donations for things- just a problem with the organization not being up front about the cost. We donated 280 filled Easter eggs for our service project. I knew ahead of time that I would have to get the eggs, fill them and deliver them to the Salvation Army. Great opportunity, by the way. My family had a great time filling them and getting to help a bunch of kids have a great Easter egg hunt. The woman at the Salvation Army even said this was gonna be their best egg hunt to date

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I paid over $100 to buy fabric to make my Project Linus blankets.

I am sorry your opportunity was not described correctly.

I agree. Ours cost a bunch, but it is a bummer that you didn't realize beforehand.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Wow, that's just wrong.. If you do end up doing it, maybe you can write off the expense on your taxes? I wouldn't do it. It's not volunteering.

I think I take offense to this. The project I signed my family up for was to make gift baskets for senior citizens who receive Meals on Wheels. They suggested 5 bags/baskets per volunteer. I wanted them to be really nice, (I actually imagined how the senior would feel receiving it.) so I bought over $75 worth of supplies. My DSs and I put them together, my DH earned the money, and we got 4 tickets.

So because our activity involved out of pocket expenses from us, it's not volunteering?

I do agree with you on one point. OP, if you aren't happy with spending money on this, don't do it. We can't even use our tickets for admission because we have APs , and we can't even use them to renew. We will be asking for the pin figurine and be very happy to get them. The gift basket thing was fun, worthwhile, and even though we can't afford to do it again for awhile it was nice to be recognized as a VOLUNTEER.

 

[mafibisha]

I don't understand why you don't see this as wrong. Of course when you get a free ticket it is so you will come to the parks and spend money, etc. But paying for the opportunity to volunteer? What a crock of poop!!!!

I never said it wasn't wrong. I agree that it is not right having to pay to volunteer.

What I DID say was GENERALLY SPEAKING - that too many people (not just here but everywhere) expect *something for nothing* and once again, there is no free lunch! Anywhere! There's always some sort of a *cost* - (as I said in my PP) - in the *free* things offered anywhere, and that includes by WDW!!!

 

[MKCP5]

OP, it seems from your posts that you do volunteer outside of GAD and were looking for another opportunity to volunteer within your means. Was it the owner of the bear shop who was running the event? If so, I can see how you would think that the owner is trying to up business.

There is no reason to make the OP feel bad. From her posts, she was looking for a volunteer opportunity for her family that involved their time and not money. Unfortunately, the owner of the store was not very fothcoming in the original posting for the event.

It sounds like a funky opportunity anyway. The OP was looking for a chance to donate her hours of time. This opportunity was only about forking over money and 10 minutes of her time for a discounted ticket. She wanted to donate hours of her time. She seems to have good intentions. OP, I'm sorry you are in the situation.

Hi Tired my new BFF who totally gets me!!! LOL!!! You are exactly on target. We volunteer every week and have for years, and so do both of our children. We do it because we enjoy it and we believe that everyone should pitch in to help others. The opportunity was the wrong choice. Adding cost to it now really makes it the wrong choice. I am just very dissapointed.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I agree with you but many won't see it that way



You should...esp since the person that this happened to was a Project Linus volunteer. She was happy that her blankets will get a good home but it is disappointing.

She should contact someone.. even though its even if she was signed up she still gets the credit:

One million volunteers have either committed to volunteer or completed their service. Volunteers can no longer search or sign up for new opportunities. If you are already committed to a future opportunity through this site, you will still be able to participate in the program. Once you complete your service, and your service has been verified, you can print a voucher for a free ticket to a Disney Theme park.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I think I take offense to this. The project I signed my family up for was to make gift baskets for senior citizens who receive Meals on Wheels. They suggested 5 bags/baskets per volunteer. I wanted them to be really nice, (I actually imagined how the senior would feel receiving it.) so I bought over $75 worth of supplies. My DSs and I put them together, my DH earned the money, and we got 4 tickets.

So because our activity involved out of pocket expenses from us, it's not volunteering?

I do agree with you on one point. OP, if you aren't happy with spending money on this, don't do it. We can't even use our tickets for admission because we have APs , and we can't even use them to renew. We will be asking for the pin figurine and be very happy to get them. The gift basket thing was fun, worthwhile, and even though we can't afford to do it again for awhile it was nice to be recognized as a VOLUNTEER.

You also spent shopping time, etc. There was still time involved.

 

[disluhypno]

Did you friend receive a free ticket? It must take a lot of time stuffing bears, taking half an hour. Although if it cost that much to stuff one bear, I would probably milk all the time I could, lol.

You should take this opportunity, in my opinion. I wouldn't. If you can't afford it, then don't do it. However, if you believe that it will benefit you in the long run (which it would technically save money by not having to purchase a ticket full price), then go for it. However the organization, and all of the organizations should mention there will be a cost up front, instead of "surprising" you at the door. Usually surprises are great, but that would not be the most pleasant of experiences.

 

[pmickus]

We spent 4 hours painting fences and mucking stalls at an Equine Rescue Farm and had a blast. The farm owners even provided us with lunch which was a surprise. We will be going back because it was such a wonderful experience.

 

[Leajess99]

How is that not volunteering? You're giving time and resources to a program that provides bears to foster children without getting paid.

I agree. Shoot, we bought and made craft kits as well as bought items for, put together, and donated a gift basket for an auction. We still did not end up spending the cost of 4 1 day tickets to WDW and I know what we donated will go to kids in need. Shoot, even as a soccer coach and the team mom I always ended up spending money. Volunteering is never free!!! It may not alway cost monetarily but it does cost in time and such. I volunteer for the love of it as I know I am helping someone out. I teach my kids to be just as selfless. It really bothers me that so many think that GAD was just for "free" tickets.