Neighbor's Strange Request... WWYD?

[LuvOrlando]

I get those too. I suspect some charities must send them out to those who donate to drum up more money. Since my neighbor has no problem anonymously dropping the burden off in my mailbox I have no problem throwing it out. I give to particular places I feel comfortable about and that is it. I don't think you should feel bad about it either, it's allot like Spam isn't it? The recipient dumps it off on other people just so they don't feel guilt.

 

[shortbun]

Lol, some of you guys must live in a cave...this is the way the American Heart Association, The Leukemia society, the American Cancer Society and a few others do their main fund raiser every year. they ask people in all the neighborhoods to contact their 'neighbors' and ask for donations. I've done it, been asked to do it and refused, had other neighbors approach me-year after year. Thinking it's 'suspicious' or 'unusual' or even a personal issue of one neighbor is just silly. It's the big yearly fund raiser and you can feel free to ignore it although in some cases your neighbor is supposed to recontact you. Be nice, they are just doing their volunteer work and all you have to do is smile and say 'no thanks.'

 

[debf]

I did this one year. I got a phone call from American Heart Assoc. and was asked if I would send out request for donations to all my neighbors. I said yes even though I didn't really want to. They sent me the list with names and addresses of my neighbors. I sent out all the envelopes with another self addressed and stamped envelope to neighbors on my list. I did not get one single envelope back. So now when they call me and ask to send out for donations I say no.My neighbors won't send anything back. I don't want to spend my time and money for nothing. I just send in my own donation.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Ahhh...social engineering. Gotta love it.

As for the OP, if/when I get requests like that, I treat them like all the other junk mail I get: into the recycling bin it goes. No need for a personal response. It's not like this was an invitation to a party or anything.

 

[NikitaZee]

Oh, okay. I've just never seen this in my area in ANY home I have lived in. I won't worry about tossing it!

Glad I read this thread. I've lived in quite a few different places, and I've never heard of this either. Now I'll know if something like this ever comes my way.

 

[golfgal]

I was our neighborhood contact once many years ago. It used to be a nice old lady down the street from us but she could no longer do it so she asked if I would do it. At that time they asked that you knocked on the doors, which I did. We took a check made out to the AHA and mailed them all in one envelope when you were done. It is legitimate and a good cause should you choose to donate.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I was the person they contacted to do this in my old neighborhood. I agreed because my father died of lung cancer and it was for cancer. I thought I was doing a nice thing but nobody responded. It was embarrassing and I am more embarrassed now thinking my neighbors might have been "weirded out".

Sorry about your dad.

Don't be embarrassed. People have different reasons for not donating, most of the reasons I suspect have to do with personal finances. It could be no one thought you were weird at all. If they did, it's their problem. They could've been embarrassed because they didn't or couldn't donate. You never know.

 

[ZPT1022]

My mother used to be the "neighborhood coordinator" for her old neighborhood. Different situation though as that was the house my Dad grew up in, and my grandparents sold it to my parents when they moved to FL. Most of the neighbors were in similar situations so these were families that had known each other for 50 years in some cases. My mom collected for the disease that killed my father and since everyone had been friends for so long, kids had grown up together, and then their kids grew up together, it was more of an extended family kind of feel. I would be the coordinator in that case but I can't see doing it otherwise, and I think now that she's moved she no longer does it.

 

[Mickey527]

I have American Cancer Society, Heart Assoc, and Diabetes Assoc. all contact me to do this. another neighbor used to do it but she moved and gave them my name. I was angry but you can't get these people off the line.
the law states that mail can't be left in someone's mailbox, you either have to hand it to them or mail it. My neighbors all work so I don't see them much, only when they do yard work, and even less during the winter.
I told the groups that I would rather send them the money than what I spend in stamps. 1 stamp on the envelope for the neighbor and 1 on the return envelope. They have 24 homes in my neighborhood. that's 48 stamps, a good chunk of change.
I try to tell the groups no but you won't believe how they nag and nag, so I usually just say ok send the stuff.
I have been doing it for 4 years now and I have NEVER gotten a penny from any neighbor.

 

[RNMOM]

I used to do this for several charities. Most want the checks sent to them but some want you to collect and send one check to them. I think they figure if you get meager donations you will feel guilty and add more on to it....like I did.

I only had one or two neighbors respond so I have stopped doing it. I still get a lot of calls though.