Give a day will COST US MONEY!!!!

[willowsnn3]

Sounds more like making a donation than the act of volunteering.

It results in the same impact to a foster child as giving them one teddy bear from your own collection. A nice gesture... but not much impact.

Now, giving a foster child (who likely has little to no fun/frivolous time) an opportunity to go to a Build-A-Bear type place... experience all the fun of building that bear... THAT would be cool!

The 5 of us signed up & filled large duffel bags for a local children's home. By the time we bought the bags & filled them, we paid probably half the ticket price. Then there was some kind of mix up ( yes we were registered, yes we had confirmation email....) & we wound up not being eligible for the "free" ticket. And you know what??? We can't be upset about it cause we really enjoyed buying those bags & filling them with things that are needed by those children. So we 'volunteered' money & time. I don't understand how someone can claim to 'volunteer' then gripe cause they didn't benefit from it!!!We're still going to WDW, just having to pay full price.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The 5 of us signed up & filled large duffel bags for a local children's home. By the time we bought the bags & filled them, we paid probably half the ticket price. Then there was some kind of mix up ( yes we were registered, yes we had confirmation email....) & we wound up not being eligible for the "free" ticket. And you know what??? We can't be upset about it cause we really enjoyed buying those bags & filling them with things that are needed by those children. So we 'volunteered' money & time. I don't understand how someone can claim to 'volunteer' then gripe cause they didn't benefit from it!!!We're still going to WDW, just having to pay full price.

Respectfully---

Donating time and donating money/product are two different things.

It should have been disclosed, period.

To not do so was deception on the part of the group. They probably figured that noone would volunteer if they knew they had to pay in advance.

I look at it like this--if I volunteer at a Soup Kitchen, I am going to help them. But if I go and find out that I am required to donating $$$ so that they can pay for food, prior to donating my time--that's wrong.

All the spin about "feeling good about it" is just spin.

You cannot lie to people under the premise of "volunteering" and then surprise them with a bill. It's wrong and not in the proper spirit.

Can you imagine Habitat for Humanity volunteers being told they had to stop by Lowe's to pay for the lumber before going to the job site? IT wouldn't fly at all.

Soliciting donations isn't a big deal--but when you hide it behind volunteering time and misrepresenting your organization--it would make me question the group and what else they might lie about under the premise of "charity".

There is no honor in that and anyone who has a problem with someone being upset that they were duped--I'm speechless.

Tickets or no tickets--it's wrong and I would have a problem with any organization that does such a thing, any time of the year without full disclosure that you are to also provide the materials at your own expense.

 

[powellrj]

Respectfully---

Donating time and donating money/product are two different things.

It should have been disclosed, period.

To not do so was deception on the part of the group. They probably figured that noone would volunteer if they knew they had to pay in advance.

I look at it like this--if I volunteer at a Soup Kitchen, I am going to help them. But if I go and find out that I am required to donating $$$ so that they can pay for food, prior to donating my time--that's wrong.

All the spin about "feeling good about it" is just spin.

You cannot lie to people under the premise of "volunteering" and then surprise them with a bill. It's wrong and not in the proper spirit.

Can you imagine Habitat for Humanity volunteers being told they had to stop by Lowe's to pay for the lumber before going to the job site? IT wouldn't fly at all.

Soliciting donations isn't a big deal--but when you hide it behind volunteering time and misrepresenting your organization--it would make me question the group and what else they might lie about under the premise of "charity".

There is no honor in that and anyone who has a problem with someone being upset that they were duped--I'm speechless.

Tickets or no tickets--it's wrong and I would have a problem with any organization that does such a thing, any time of the year without full disclosure that you are to also provide the materials at your own expense.

That is where the confusion is. When we volunteer to serve at our local homeless shelter, its known that you also have to provide the meal you are serving. We get together the night before we serve and prepare the meal and then serve it the next night.

While I have never done Habitat, I assumed you WOULD provide at least your own tools. We do service projects all the time and you do provide your own supplies. You bring your own brushes and paint pans and tools. I have never done any type of service that you DIDN'T provide materials. No you wouldn't bring the lumber, but you would bring your own hammers and we have even provided nails and paint.

 

[Amandaj0831]

Me and my family did our service through the Salvation Army. We sorted clothing that had been donated along with paid employees, so our servive did save them money although we did not pay anything minus gas costs. I personally think all costs should be disclosed up front. I dont even think it is wrong to charge but you need to say it up front. There have been months that 52 could be a big thing if I wasnt planning on the expense. Once we went to a birthday party at a bowling alley and were asked at the end to pay. It would not have been a big deal if it had said so upfront but since they just came around at the end asking for money I didnt have any cash on me and put in a bad position.

 

[EllenFrasier]

So how did it turn out? Did you do the Build a Bear volunteer day or not? If not, did you sign up to do something else?

​

Okay, so I am not too happy. We signed up for the GAD promo and we know someonie else who is doing it too. They did their service last weekend. The service is going to this shop and stuffing teddy bears that will then be given to foster children.

When my accquaintance went this weekend she was told the had to pay $12.99 for each bear they stuffed, this would cover costs of donating these bears. There was NO MENTION of this in the job description when we signed up. So she paid the 12.99 stuffed one bear and left--she was there for 1/2 an hour.

This is NOT what we signed up for!!! I though we would be there for a few hours doing bears and certainly not paying to volunteer! It will cost us $52. for the four of us to do this. I can't afford it right now.

I'm not sure what to do. We are not even sure we are going to get to go to WDW this summer. We figured we would go and volunteer, and worst case scenario, if we couldn't go, we would donate our tickets. I don't want to spend money to do it though.

What are your thoughts?

I'm really not happy

 

[mousey]

I'm sure if Disney does this promotion again in the future, there will be some changes. I can't see Disney expecting someone to pay 12.99 to make a bear for a needy child. I could see donating the materials to make a bear, but not expecting you to lay out 12.99 to make the bear and donate it. The group that sponsored that activity was just promoting the bear company. I know many people said they would of rather paid 12.99 and donated the bear than do physical labor, but that should of been an option, not something you find out about when you arrive to do the service.

We really were lucky to volunteer for the group that we chose. They fed us a great dinner followed by a few hours of fun watching over an auction. Before we signed up I did a little research on the event. I found out that tables sold for $1,000 so this was a big time fundraiser. I emailed and asked if there was a dress code--which there was. The bonus was getting the Disney ticket but also knowing we helped a worthwhile organization. I don't think I would of felt the same way handing over 12.99 for a bear knowing the company sponsoring it was making money from it. JMO!

 

[PEANUT1]

disney did not make people pay for their donation...people who apply for GAD can decide their volunteer experience. I'm sorry that the OP didn't understand the terms, but really they should have looked into it further before deciding on it.

We did the blankets...I never would have thought that they materials would be paid for by anyone other than me. If I didn't want to pay for anything, I could have signed up for something else.

To me, this was a volunteer experience first and foremost. It gave a great experience to my kids. My 6 year old talks about it all the time.

 

[mousey]

I know Disney did not make them pay for there donation, however, I'm sure Disney also didn't know they were charging people 12.99 to make a donated bear. Providing your own materials for donating blankets is a given. The way that service was described made it sound like they were making bears to donate--not purchasing them to donate. How would you have felt if Project Linus asked you to make 2 blankets from a kit that they provide to you for $50. Would you have chosen the kit or donated to a chapter that let you provide your own materials? Lets say you could get the same supplies at your local fabric store for $20. Don't you think it should be your choice? That's all the OP was stating--she wanted to know in advance what was expected of her.

 

[FergieTCat]

Don't forget that Build-A-Bear was making a profit as well. They weren't charging a discounted price for bears; they were charging the exact same price that they would to any paying customer. If it were truly for charity, Build-A-Bear should have charged THEIR cost for the materials.

I still say that the OP has every reason to be annoyed.

 

[gw_lit]

To the OP I just want to say that I think it is wonderful that you want to volunteer (and are teaching your children the importance of volunteering) and I understand your frustration with the "Bear Store" for not posting the cost up front. I feel that the "Bear Store" was very deceptive and that it was clearly a ploy to get people into the store to spend money. Did this "Bear Store" do anything for the organization like lets say match the amount of bears donated? If not then I think it's pretty crappy of the store to have made money off of someone elses attempt to help others. OP just wanted to send a your way and just ignore the negative responses.

Well said... I completely agree!

Don't forget that Build-A-Bear was making a profit as well. They weren't charging a discounted price for bears; they were charging the exact same price that they would to any paying customer. If it were truly for charity, Build-A-Bear should have charged THEIR cost for the materials.

Let's remember this was not "Build-A-Bear Workshop" that many are familiar with, this was a completely different orgranization.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That is where the confusion is. When we volunteer to serve at our local homeless shelter, its known that you also have to provide the meal you are serving. We get together the night before we serve and prepare the meal and then serve it the next night.

While I have never done Habitat, I assumed you WOULD provide at least your own tools. We do service projects all the time and you do provide your own supplies. You bring your own brushes and paint pans and tools. I have never done any type of service that you DIDN'T provide materials. No you wouldn't bring the lumber, but you would bring your own hammers and we have even provided nails and paint.

I've been a part of a few--if you have to provide something, you are told in ADVANCE.

You don't show up and get surprised with an admission fee to participate.

 

[PEANUT1]

the OP does have a choice..they don't have to do it.

 

[MKCP5]

At least 4, and I am sure the numbers will rise throughout this thread. I know you are upset, but seriously there are people out there who would willingly pay the 12.99 and more just for the experience. You are upset because posters are labeling you and you are doing exactly the same thing. You came here to tell us your problem. Some people agreed, some did not, and some even offered to help you. I think it is time for you to make a decision whether or not the $12.99 is worth it for you to get your ticket. Since this is the budget boards you would pay $12.99 for a $78.00 adult ticket. I really hope that the choice you make gives you peace. Good Luck.

The EXPERIENCE? REALLY? Walking in and stuffing a bear for 10 minutes and leaving. That is NOT a volunteer experience. Helping someone in need and spending some time there doing it is an experience

 

[MKCP5]

Why are you so concerned about the number who might have done it for the ticket? I never donated to Project Linus before, because the closest is 2 hours away. We volunteer at several local places, and I serve on the board of 2 non profits. Most people who volunteer, even if it is mandatory (for school, the courts, etc.) get something positive out of the experience, and in my experience, many come back to serve again. Look at this Half full sometime. It is a much better life.

I couldn't care less how many do it just for the free ticket. My point was that I was being slammed for wanting to do the service and getting a ticket out of the deal, and many people did this purely for the ticket and should not be slammed for that.

Since you know nothing about my life I will tell you that my family already volunteers over 30 hours a month. Volunteerism is a part of our family fabric. I know the glass is better half full.

 

[MKCP5]

To the OP I just want to say that I think it is wonderful that you want to volunteer (and are teaching your children the importance of volunteering) and I understand your frustration with the "Bear Store" for not posting the cost up front. I feel that the "Bear Store" was very deceptive and that it was clearly a ploy to get people into the store to spend money. Did this "Bear Store" do anything for the organization like lets say match the amount of bears donated? If not then I think it's pretty crappy of the store to have made money off of someone elses attempt to help others. OP just wanted to send a your way and just ignore the negative responses.

Thanks so much. My responses are getting kind of snarky but I feel really attacked by this. You said exactly what I am feeling

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

the OP does have a choice..they don't have to do it.

True--we all have choices.

However, it doesn't entitle entities to be deceptive in their practices.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

The EXPERIENCE? REALLY? Walking in and stuffing a bear for 10 minutes and leaving. That is NOT a volunteer experience. Helping someone in need and spending some time there doing it is an experience

I agree 100% with you that it is not a true volunteering experience that most people experience. At this point you are or were at the point in the process where you needed to make a decision. Go do the 10 minute stuffing at $12.99 or not. Either way the bears were going to someone who would appreciate it. You could always just go back and sign up for another group through the Hand On Networks sans the free ticket.

 

[SandrA9810]

It's been long posted that there are no more GAD tickets left. So no other option for this family to participate.

MKCP: did you participate in this?? Or did you let it go by?? At least you had some sort of warning unlike your friend and several others that showed up.

 

[MKCP5]

For the many of you who have asked or PM'd me. Thank you for your nice responses. For those of you who flamed, I guess we just have a difference of opinion and need to let it go at that.

In response to your questions, no we are going to stuff a bear. We have decided to travel elsewhere this summer, so we would not be using them.

We knew when we signed up that we may not be going this summer, and so I didn't feel as if I were taking a ticket from someone else because if the promotion had been as described, I would have still gone and volunteered and donated the ticket for someone else. But since it is NOT as described, I won't be going and spending $52.00 plus tax in order to donate them.

The unfortunate part of this whole mess is that now there are 4 more tickets that another family could have earned that will go unused

 

[JCMHutch]

It is too bad that the Bear store was not totally up front. Most times when you volunteer to help with toys, clothing etc, its usually already donated and you are taking the time to sort/distribute them.

I signed up for the program a while back - I was already booked to go to Disney in the summer and figured I could get the fastpass option. I set-up my day to volunteer at the local WIC office on a Saturday morning, had everything confirmed and was told that the Give a Day program was over a few weeks after everything was finalized.

Oh well, I am still going to go and volunteer as planned (which made my contact very happy) because they need the help. I did find it sad the some volunteers dropped after the program ended.