Summer Camp Donations --Update Post 89

[WendyisDarling]

Am I just being cheap and crabby or would this bother any of you?
This weekend a neighbor boy came to the door (DH home not me) and said he was collecting donations so he could attend some sort of summer camp. DH says he had some sort of official looking form, several $20 bills visible (DH assumed were from neighbors) and his little sister in tow. DH gave him $20. When he told me the story i said "What?" he explained he didn't want to look cheap because others had given $20. Did he recognize the names, "no" assumed they were from down the street. (I know our nearby neighbors and they may have felt pressured and given $5, but not $20).

It's over and done, but when I think about it, it still annoys me and I'm tempted to send my child over to their house to ask for camp contributions (I won't, just saying I'm tempted).

We pay a lot for summer camps and activities for our own kids. In fact, DS has now been told if he wants to do anything additional this summer HE has to help fund it. (I guess he could go door to door to get his share. ) We are just passed our limit on shelling out for camps.

No, I don't know what kind of camp it is. DH didn't ask any questions. He could have said no. $20 isn't the end of the world. But, I told DH if any other children do that to just tell them we have already contributed our maximum to summer camps, sorry.

I sort of know I'm being crabby about it. I'm really not dwelling on it. I just wrote a check for a camp and it made me think of it again and am curious of your thoughts.

 

[sassystamper31]

Yeah, I think that would make me a bit irritable, too.

Guess next time, instead of saying "no, you can't do that, we can't afford it right now" I need to be saying "sure! Why don't you walk around the block and ask the neighbors to pay for it??"

What the heck??

 

[DawnM]

Did you know this neighbor kid?

I only ask because we have these college age kids come around and ask for donations for something and they always say they live "down the street" but we all know each other, so we were able to call their bluff and called the police on them.

They looked "official" too.

Our policy is to never give at the door or over the phone. I will mail in donations to organizations I feel are legit, including summer camp for inner city youth.

Now, if you want to come in and clean my house and EARN some money for camp, that is different!

Dawn

 

[Mrsgrumpy2000]

No, I never "give" a child money for camp. My policy is they may "earn" it. I have neighbor's children often work for me during the summer to help pay for their summer camps. It is a win win situation.

 

[Taja]

I never contribute to anyone who comes to the door or calls. Period.

I have annoyed folks over the years. However, it's my money, and if I choose to contribute, it will be to the organization(s) of my choice.

I've also gotten away from purchasing junk sold by the organizations--including Girl Scout cookies. No one eats them. No one reads the magazines. You get the picture.

Just call me Scrooge! *LOL*

 

[Dancemom03]

It does seem kind of nervy. Could it be a service camp perhaps? I'd be tempted to find a time to "run into" the mom or dad to ask when he's leaving and is he excited.

Sometimes around here in the summer, kids and adults will go away on what used to be called mission trips but are now referred to as "camp" where they help rebuild a town or house, clean up an area, or lend a hand in some other way. I've been hit with donation requests for that kind of summer camp and attended more than a few bake sales and flea markets for service camps too. Does the family go to church? Maybe it's a youth group type of thing like that?

 

[WendyisDarling]

Did you know this neighbor kid?

Yes, he lives across the street. No problems with him or his family, but we aren't really good friends, either. Same bus stop with DS, but that's about it.


Thanks for the comments. I feel justified in being a little out of sorts about the whole thing instead of being the mean selfish lady.

 

[WendyisDarling]

It does seem kind of nervy. Could it be a service camp perhaps? I'd be tempted to find a time to "run into" the mom or dad to ask when he's leaving and is he excited.

Sometimes around here in the summer, kids and adults will go away on what used to be called mission trips but are now referred to as "camp" where they help rebuild a town or house, clean up an area, or lend a hand in some other way. I've been hit with donation requests for that kind of summer camp and attended more than a few bake sales and flea markets for service camps too. Does the family go to church? Maybe it's a youth group type of thing like that?

i don't know, that's why I wrote that I don't know what sort of camp it is. It could be.
I don't want to judge the parents. They seem like good people.
I know he didn't mention to DH what type of camp it is, but DH didn't ask either.
You never know. Anything is possible.

That being said, DS is going to a service related camp and we didn't ask anyone to help fund it. In fact, it was one he had to pay a little for himself (not a lot, I'm not that wicked but he gets an allowance and I already paid a lot for other camps.) I needed him to appreciate that all these activities don't just pay for themselves, kwim?

 

[summerrluvv]

Honestly? I really see it as being no different than a Girl Scout going door to door to solicit cookie sales to help pay for her summer camp. Or Cub Scouts soliciting door to door selling popcorn to fund summer camp. Or school children soliciting door to door selling fundraiser items for their school so they can win a prize. So to answer your question, no I wouldn't be bothered.

 

[CarolA]

I've also gotten away from purchasing junk sold by the organizations--including Girl Scout cookies. No one eats them. No one reads the magazines. You get the picture.

Just call me Scrooge! *LOL*

WOW! I am impressed with your willpower. Girl Scout cookies disappear fast!

I actually donate to their "gifts for caring" to keep those things OUT of my house LOL!

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

mmmmmmm, Girl Scout cookies...................yummy.............

okay, yeah, I would be slightly annoyed. My son's summer program is going to cost us a good chunk of change and we did not solicit donations.

 

[powellrj]

When my DS made show choir last year, they suggested that we send donation letters out to family and friends to help pay his fees. That was NEVER going to happen. We didn't do any of the fundraising and he got a job and paid for most of it himself. I know there are other things the kids are in that recommend you send fundraising letters out, but we would never do it.

We got a fundraising letter a few weeks ago from one of my BFF. I don't know her DS, but he had the chance to play baseball this summer in Japan. I know he plays college baseball and I know he has played in other countries, so I sent a check to him for $20. Its not something I would normally do, but something just moved me to do it. Fast forward last week. We got a thank-you from the kid. I had written the check on my own and forgot to mention it to DH. I figured he would be a little ticked about it, but he was fine. Like I said, normally I would say no, but I just felt the urge to help the kid.

 

[sndfan]

Honestly? I really see it as being no different than a Girl Scout going door to door to solicit cookie sales to help pay for her summer camp. Or Cub Scouts soliciting door to door selling popcorn to fund summer camp. Or school children soliciting door to door selling fundraiser items for their school so they can win a prize. So to answer your question, no I wouldn't be bothered.

I think it is different. In each of the situations you mentioned, they were SELLING something...this was a flat out "gimme money". Personally, I think it's tacky.

 

[IDoDis]

A couple of years ago on the day before Thanksgiving, my kids decided they needed some money for Christmas shopping. It was too cold to set up a lemonade stand, so they went in our back & front yard and each filled a shoe box with various sizes, shapes and colors of rocks (we have lots of rock in our landscaping). Then, they went door to door around the block and "sold" their rocks for 50 to 75 cents each. They made a little under $10 each selling rocks!!!

They said some of the neighbors paid them $1.00 and said to keep the rest for a tip!

I think it's tacky though to ask the neighbors to help pay for camp. DD's friend's parents have started selling the World's Finest Chocolate candy bars to help fund their DD's figure skating expenses. They take the candy with them where ever they go and end up selling about 10 - 20 bars a day. She told me the other day they took a box of 40 candy bars into a local pizza place and while they were having dinner, they sold every candy bar!

 

[Aliceacc]

The Fresh Air Fund, getting inner city kids to camps in the country, is one thing.

Asking me to support my neighbor's kids is another. I would have very politely declined to fund my neighbor's summer plans.

For what it's worth, my kids don't sell anything. No candy, no raffle tickets, no magazines or wrapping paper. I'll buy something and send in a check, but I will NOT ask other people to support my kids.

They're my kids and I love them-- and I support them.

 

[Doesney]

Just a thought........... but maybe the parents didn't know I would casually bring it up to them and let them know you are DONE funding their childs summer camp. I can just imagine me sending my kids to the neighbors for something like that "Hi, can you help send me to camp this summer?" sounds of doors slamming HARD

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I am not supporting anyone's kids going to camp. The only kids I pay for activities for is my own. I think it takes a lot of nerve. Camp is not a neccesity (sp?). How about we start sending the kids around town to collect money for oil and gas? Oh- we want a huge water slide for the yard this summer- can I send the kids to beg for money for that? Please. Rude rude rude.

 

[Magic Mom]

Maybe it was the troops suggestion for the kids to "earn" part of the expense instead of just expecting Mom and Dad to pay it all.
Even stil it would annoy me too. DD wanted to go to camp for two weeks, but we could only swing one this summer. There is no way I'd be funding the neighborhood kids too. LOL

 

[Michelle67]

I make a lot of charitable donations-- not huge amounts of money, just a little here and a little there---and I like to help out people in my community. I also think camp is a good experience for kids, and I believe that if you encourage those kinds of experiences for kids you discourage delinquent behavior at the same time. That said, I would much rather he'd come asking to EARN some money as well. I don't care for being solicited by anybody.

On the other hand, I used to have a family with six kids down the block from me and those kids were constantly on my front porch asking me to pay them to do some yard work. After awhile that got to be a serious pain in the posterior too. Once a month, maybe. Two or three times in a week? NO!

 

[summerrluvv]

I am not supporting anyone's kids going to camp. The only kids I pay for activities for is my own. I think it takes a lot of nerve. Camp is not a neccesity (sp?). How about we start sending the kids around town to collect money for oil and gas? Oh- we want a huge water slide for the yard this summer- can I send the kids to beg for money for that? Please. Rude rude rude.

Camp is a necessity for many. Many people work and need childcare and camp is the only option.