Kids in front of Wal-mart asking for donations for their sports teams?

[scheddj]

I always give, but it does bother me that the kids are being taught to beg instead of offering goods or services.

And for the people who say they'd rather donate than buy the junk - do you actually follow through and donate? The reason I ask is the last year my girls were in Girl Scouts the council reversed the rule that had been in effect for the years before and for that last year we were able to take donations. Every person that said "Oh, if only you could take donations" looked like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar when we told them that starting this year we could. To their credit only one walked away, but most of the others remembered some one else in their family who might be able to choke down a box of GS cookies!!

I never minded selling the cookies because there were so many people who wanted them. We were always still selling late to people as we were trying to pack up to go home.

It also taught the girls so much. We were always surprised when the shy, quiet girl in the group turned out to have a real knack for selling. They were required to count change, something not a lot of grown-ups can do these days. It also taught them to be gratious when they were turned down - and there were several who had to be taught that, but only once.

They were also required as a group to plan our activities according to what we could afford from our dues and fund-raisers. Our activities included donating a fully decorated Christmas Tree to an underpriviledged family every year, donating to food to homeless shelters, making baby blankets for the local womens shelter, setting up and making the first contributions to the school hat and mitten tree, along with camping and other fun activities every year.

Sorry for the rant but I've seen a lot of grown ups be rude to these children. Just say your not interested politely and move on. And remember even the ones who are "begging" and not offering anything are just following the directions of adults.

 

[mjkacmom]

I always give, but it does bother me that the kids are being taught to beg instead of offering goods or services.

And for the people who say they'd rather donate than buy the junk - do you actually follow through and donate? The reason I ask is the last year my girls were in Girl Scouts the council reversed the rule that had been in effect for the years before and for that last year we were able to take donations. Every person that said "Oh, if only you could take donations" looked like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar when we told them that starting this year we could. To their credit only one walked away, but most of the others remembered some one else in their family who might be able to choke down a box of GS cookies!!

I never minded selling the cookies because there were so many people who wanted them. We were always still selling late to people as we were trying to pack up to go home.

It also taught the girls so much. We were always surprised when the shy, quiet girl in the group turned out to have a real knack for selling. They were required to count change, something not a lot of grown-ups can do these days. It also taught them to be gratious when they were turned down - and there were several who had to be taught that, but only once.

They were also required as a group to plan our activities according to what we could afford from our dues and fund-raisers. Our activities included donating a fully decorated Christmas Tree to an underpriviledged family every year, donating to food to homeless shelters, making baby blankets for the local womens shelter, setting up and making the first contributions to the school hat and mitten tree, along with camping and other fun activities every year.

Sorry for the rant but I've seen a lot of grown ups be rude to these children. Just say your not interested politely and move on. And remember even the ones who are "begging" and not offering anything are just following the directions of adults.

Oh, I gladly donate - I always take the little league opt out option. I don't mind the cookies - people like them, and they're not too expensive. However, the cheapest candy item is $6, I believe, and there's not much in them. Instead of selling wrapping paper at preschool, I give a $10 check. I feel strongly that sports are good for children, and have no problem putting some change in a can. I don't think that sports should only be for the wealthy.

 

[gina2000]

so DON'T play....it's a luxury, not a right to play sports.

There are lots of things I would like to do....if I could AFFORD it....I don't expect you to pay for what I can't afford.

What did people do years ago, before everyone felt that it was a requirement that their kids played little league sports?

So what, your kid is good at kicking a soccer ball, woopee, that'll change the world.

It's your right not to give. But giving a child an opportunity is much cheaper than funding his prison term.

And besides that, why not? Why not participate and give your community a sense of unity? Why not give kids the idea that what they do matters to everyone in the community because they represent the community, not just themselves, not just their families, not just their teams.

When I start begrudging a dollar to help someone achieve a goal, I figure I need to reconnect with my humanity. But that's me. YMMV.

 

[LakeAriel]

The reality is many times these kids selling for their 'team' aren't on a team at all. Certainly that's not always the case by any means, but often it is. Kids are 'hired' by some operator to sell candy, and the kids get a percentage of the sale. I don't know where you live, but down town Chicago is loaded with kids doing that. Fifteen years ago they were all over the place, and last Saturday when we were downtown, there were a few on North Michigan ave. I just wish they'd be more honest about it. Never mind the 'team' stuff.
Now, saying that, a lot of these kids are from poor areas, homes, etc, and if they can make a buck doing it, as long as they aren't creating problems,well, it's a job. I'm tempted from time to time to put my kids into the business. Beats them sitting around on their computers all day when they aren't in school. I'm sure we have a bunch of old team uniforms around.

Yep..There have been news reports about these operations. I don't know why the supermarkets allow it either.

 

[C.Ann]

I hate being accosted outside of any store - for any reason..

I have my favorite charities that I donate to every year - in a direct way..

Car washes and such are fine - if it's needed for kids who otherwise couldn't play.. For those who can afford to pay, I wouldn't ask you for money so my daughter could take dance lessons or baton twirling lessons, so don't ask me for money so your child can participate in their chosen activity..

 

[stevenpensacola]

It's your right not to give. But giving a child an opportunity is much cheaper than funding his prison term.

And besides that, why not? Why not participate and give your community a sense of unity? Why not give kids the idea that what they do matters to everyone in the community because they represent the community, not just themselves, not just their families, not just their teams.

When I start begrudging a dollar to help someone achieve a goal, I figure I need to reconnect with my humanity. But that's me. YMMV.

So, running yourself ragged from sunup to sundown taking little precious to swimming lessons, piano practice, choir practice, baseball practice is SO much better than staying home with your family....where you might even have to interact with one another.

IMO, organized sports is way overhyped these days. I played little league sports when I was little...(I can honestly say that I don't think it made me a better person, or influenced the way I turned out...which you'd say was pretty good if you really knew me )

So back to the OP, I don't like it....so there.

I think the poll shows that most don't give.

 

[LukenDC]

The reality is many times these kids selling for their 'team' aren't on a team at all. Certainly that's not always the case by any means, but often it is.

I see a lot of kids in DC asking for money and a few have even asked if I would give them money so that they can have a trip to WDW! I am always suspicious of where the money actually goes and never donate. That said, I am always polite and wish them good luck.

 

[handicap18]

so DON'T play....it's a luxury, not a right to play sports.

There are lots of things I would like to do....if I could AFFORD it....I don't expect you to pay for what I can't afford.

What did people do years ago, before everyone felt that it was a requirement that their kids played little league sports?

So what, your kid is good at kicking a soccer ball, woopee, that'll change the world.

Todays world is a LOT different that 15, 20, 30 years ago. When I was a kid growing up we went to other houses on our bikes to round up the other kids in the neighborhood to play baseball or football or ride bikes or what ever kind of outdoor play we could come up with. We didn't worry about sexual preditors in pickup trucks roaming the neighborhood looking for kids to abduct and eventually kill.

How many neighborhoods today in this country do you see kids outside just playing? Very very few. Parents don't want their kids outside anymore because its to dangerous. Why do you think they now have the Amber Alert. How many stories do you hear of kids last seen riding their bike home from school or a friends house down the street only to never have made it home because of some wacko.

Kids sports orginazitions and music clubs and drama and what ever other orginizations are more important today than they were in the past because its a safer environment where kids can get together with other kids and play. Because of inflation and the economy its just a heck of a lot more expensive than it used to be.

Your correct, its not a right, but it is necessary. Would you rather have more kids on the street selling drugs and prostituting themselves or would you rather have kids playing a sport or an instrument or something else that is more constructive, organized and safer?

Actually if a kid is good at kicking a soccer ball it may change the world. That kid might play on a team. Learn to win and learn to lose. Learn to work in a team environment. Work with other people to come to a common goal. Then maybe when that kid grows up, he/she becomes a doctor and works together with other doctors in a productive environment and finds a cure for cancer. Or maybe that kids ends up becoming a CEO of a major corporation and is able to work together with his employees and developes a product that makes living life easier or safer.

You can be dam sure that if that same kid instead went to the streets and found out he/she can make a quick buck by selling pills or dope or something that they'd end up in jail 7 or 8 times during his/her life and there is no way possible in that situation that they can change the world.

There was a report out over the last few years that over 90% of women who are now CEO's or hold another high position in the coorporate world played organized team sports when they were kids.

There is saying...

If you give a kid a chance, they'll change the world.

 

[LadyBears]

A little OT for those of you who complain about the fundraisers:

My DD is involved in hockey & Girl Scouts - DH coaches & I am a GS leader so I have been through a lot of these fundraisers on both sides.

There will always be someone who doesn't like the wrapping paper, the candy, the cookies, the begging while there are those that prefer it. Please, instead of COMPLAINING about them - step up & join us. What I mean by that is that we will ALWAYS have room on our fundraising committes for you & your ideas. Please feel free to take part "BEHIND the scenes" & help. Do you have a better idea? You are more than welcome to come up with an idea & follow it through. We don't just say lets sell candy - go to Stop & Shop, buy the candy & resell it for twice the price. It can be very difficult to find a company to "sponser" the organization or even come up with money upfront to pay them for their product.

If you don't have the extra money to donate (& I mean to ANYTHING, not just sport) - donate your time. Trust me, in 10 years your child won't remember that you donated $5.00 to buy cookies, but WILL remember that you were a coach or assistant coach or leader or whatever....

Are you a good sewer? Donate your time of sewing a teams name onto their uniform. The team won't need to raise as much money to have it done through a professional uniform shop.

Do you own a business? Your business won't feel the $500.00 donation - but that $500.00 could pay for 14 jerseys. Not only is it a tax write off for you - it is also free advertising when you sponser a sports team & have your company name on their shirt. So that $500.00 you gave to us today - because of the advertising just got you a lot more back from people who watched our kids then bought something from your business.



For those that will only give to organizations instead of individual teams - that can "hurt" locally too. One example of that is Girl Scout cookies.

All of the proceeds—every penny—from a local council's cookie activities remains in the area where the cookies are sold. This revenue is used to benefit girls, some of it directly by remaining in the Girl Scout troop/group treasury and some of it indirectly by subsidizing the cost of providing the Girl Scout program in the local area.
"Cookie revenue" helps local councils:

• Recruit and train volunteer leaders for each troop/group.
• Provide the financial assistance needed to make Girl Scouting available for all girls.
• Improve and maintain camp and other activity sites.
• Keep event/camp fees for all members to a minimum.
• Sponsor special events and projects.

Each local council sets the price per box, based on its needs and its knowledge of its local market. The price per box, therefore, may vary from one location to another and from one year to the next. Today's prices reflect both the current cost of purchasing cookies from a licensed baker and the realities of providing Girl Scout activities in an ever-changing economic environment.

That $3.50 box of cookies? Some of the money goes back to the cookie company, the rest at council. You know what the council gives to the individual troop? $0.43 per box. So if a troop of 10 girls sells 50 boxes of cookies each = 10x50 = 500 boxes. Those 500 box @ .43 each = $215.00. That money is used for admission to activities (could be council run, it could be a trip to the museum), patches & pins that the girls earn, supplies they need to run meetings (pens, paper, crayons, markers, etc).


Now back OT:

I too hate the shake a can thing, but for an organization - especially early in their season - it is the easiest & quickest way to get funds for their start up costs. As long as the kids are supervised & kind & considerate about it - I will donate.

 

[MoniqueU]

My son is in wrestling and football at a private school. Not only did we lay out alot of money for sports but they have fundraisers on top of that. We paid 250 for wrestling plus uniforms and were just requited to sell 200 bucks of sees candy. We also don't have alot of family and it is hard to go through a neighborhood inundated with kids and sell one more thing.

As far as the kids in front of stores around here they aren't from local sports teams or schools. I can tell by the product they sell and it isn't from an organization. I refuse to donate to that. Now if one of the neighbor kids comes over with a fundraiser and it is not one my kids are doing I donate.

 

[mjkacmom]

Todays world is a LOT different that 15, 20, 30 years ago. When I was a kid growing up we went to other houses on our bikes to round up the other kids in the neighborhood to play baseball or football or ride bikes or what ever kind of outdoor play we could come up with. We didn't worry about sexual preditors in pickup trucks roaming the neighborhood looking for kids to abduct and eventually kill.

How many neighborhoods today in this country do you see kids outside just playing? Very very few. Parents don't want their kids outside anymore because its to dangerous. Why do you think they now have the Amber Alert. How many stories do you hear of kids last seen riding their bike home from school or a friends house down the street only to never have made it home because of some wacko.

Kids sports orginazitions and music clubs and drama and what ever other orginizations are more important today than they were in the past because its a safer environment where kids can get together with other kids and play. Because of inflation and the economy its just a heck of a lot more expensive than it used to be.

Your correct, its not a right, but it is necessary. Would you rather have more kids on the street selling drugs and prostituting themselves or would you rather have kids playing a sport or an instrument or something else that is more constructive, organized and safer?

Actually if a kid is good at kicking a soccer ball it may change the world. That kid might play on a team. Learn to win and learn to lose. Learn to work in a team environment. Work with other people to come to a common goal. Then maybe when that kid grows up, he/she becomes a doctor and works together with other doctors in a productive environment and finds a cure for cancer. Or maybe that kids ends up becoming a CEO of a major corporation and is able to work together with his employees and developes a product that makes living life easier or safer.

You can be dam sure that if that same kid instead went to the streets and found out he/she can make a quick buck by selling pills or dope or something that they'd end up in jail 7 or 8 times during his/her life and there is no way possible in that situation that they can change the world.

There was a report out over the last few years that over 90% of women who are now CEO's or hold another high position in the coorporate world played organized team sports when they were kids.

There is saying...

If you give a kid a chance, they'll change the world.

I agree that fewer children are just outside playing, but I think it's because we FALSELY think things are more dangerous today, thanks to the media. Now, will cellphones, amber alerts, and ways to instruct our children against these types of things, they're safer than we were. My kids play organized sports, and are in music programs, and I think fundraising is important, and that these activities are beneficial to children. However, I don't think we need them because the world is more dangerous.

 

[lowie]

i usually will not give anything unless the kids have very good manners when they ask.

what makes me CRAZY is when i see the young girls on the street corners with the signs for whatever it is they are trying to accomplish in skimpy bikinis! what mother would allow that! we're in florida so the weather is almost always OK for swim wear, but NOT while begging on a street corner!

i'm also PEEVED that my boss allows everyone to fund raise in the office. one girl is trying to raise thousands for her and her dd to go to hawaii to cheer. she's in my office at least 3 times a month looking for me to buy crap. i've told her that i will not ask her to buy my dd's crap if she won't ask me about hers. but then she comes in and says something like, "i know you don't fund raise but i have these wonderful christmas wreaths so my dd can go to hawaii"

i think fund raising needs to be fully clothed and NOT in my office!

darn that felt good... rant over!

p.s. i don't fund raise, i give cash directly to the teacher who needs it.

 

[arminnie]

One of our local pop warner teams made the championship (or whatever it is called - at WDW) and there were articles in the paper about how they needed to raise $70,000 in a week to be able to go. Well, perhaps they should have planned ahead.

And would this be the Westport Patriots of Baltimore - the ones who got kicked out of Disney this week? That team needed to do a lot of things differently.

 

[weregoingtodw]

I hate fundraisers of any kind. DETEST them. And I've been Girl Scout leader, room mom, and involved in every one of DD's sports she's ever been in.

I finally got tired of it. Now I just ask what the profit is the group makes per item sold, how many items the average kid sells, and write a check to the organization. So what she misses out on the flimsy toy. If she's that disappointed, I'll take her somewhere to buy something worthwhile in the time we saved not begging for money.

Yup, sore spot for me.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

What do you think of this?

I personally think it's wrong. You're the one who signed up your kids to play sports, so the expense is yours. Don't be asking me for a handout.

I don't have a problem with car washes, candy sales, etc., but I'm not a big fan of making kids go door to door selling raffle tickets....would not allow my kids to do this.

I agree with you. It's annoying.

When my kids had to particapate in beg-a-thons, we would purchase all of the goods they had to sell, or make a donation rather than bother our friends and family.

 

[grlpwrd]

The reality is many times these kids selling for their 'team' aren't on a team at all. Certainly that's not always the case by any means, but often it is. Kids are 'hired' by some operator to sell candy, and the kids get a percentage of the sale. I don't know where you live, but down town Chicago is loaded with kids doing that. Fifteen years ago they were all over the place, and last Saturday when we were downtown, there were a few on North Michigan ave. I just wish they'd be more honest about it. Never mind the 'team' stuff.
Now, saying that, a lot of these kids are from poor areas, homes, etc, and if they can make a buck doing it, as long as they aren't creating problems,well, it's a job. I'm tempted from time to time to put my kids into the business. Beats them sitting around on their computers all day when they aren't in school. I'm sure we have a bunch of old team uniforms around.

With WalMart it is different, though. You have to submit a proposal and get approval via the store manager. They are selective - well, at least in my area.

I know because my co leader of our Girl Scout troop is a department manager there and every time we want to have a booth upfront she has to get papers signed and a certificate of insurance. It is not an easy task and the store manager makes sure you are a legitimate organization. I think this is standard procedure, but if it's on a street corner somewhere - well, that is an entirely different issue.

Me? I usually don't give if they are asking for donations. I sometimes buy if they are selling something, though.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Todays world is a LOT different that 15, 20, 30 years ago. When I was a kid growing up we went to other houses on our bikes to round up the other kids in the neighborhood to play baseball or football or ride bikes or what ever kind of outdoor play we could come up with. We didn't worry about sexual preditors in pickup trucks roaming the neighborhood looking for kids to abduct and eventually kill.

Perverts are not a new "invention"....they've always been around, just has any other type of sin. There's nothing new under the sun.

If we stayed home, and actually got to KNOW our neighbors, we'd know who our kids were playing with.

I can't believe how many people I talk with who say "we're always on the road....It's like I'm a taxi....our kid can't do this because they have practice..." you know, you DON'T have to take them...you can say no.

The church we used to attend was fortunate enough to have purchased some land adjacent to the church which used to belong to a little league organization. The church is able to run a league (with paid umpires), nice facilities, without sponsors, fund raisers, fancy pantsy uniforms at a cost of about $25, plus the cost of a t-shirt and a cap. It's amazing how many people participated in this league due to the low cost, compared to the organized League which could run in the hundreds of dollars to participate, and to get away from the cut-throat-win-at-all-cost attitude of the other League. It's gotten so bad around here that you have to politic to get your kid on the "right" t-ball team, so you get on the right "track" to play for the local high school.

now the latest "fad" seems to be the "traveling team" which the parents like to bring up no matter what the conversation...."yes, we haven't been to church in a while...lil' precious is playing on a traveling team you know"...and they can hardly afford to buy groceries pandering to lil' precious' dream of playing in the majors....despite the incredible odds of ever getting there.

ok....sermon is over....

 

[Stacerita]

Ugh, it totally iritates me. I just say not today and keep on walking. It does bother me that they are just asking for donations. If they are selling candy, then its no thank you.