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Has anyone said NO to doing fundraising?

Answered 3 years ago

We have 4 kids, 3 play a sport and have been asked to do fundraising chocolates for the club.
We have already paid a lot for each of them to play and the season was reduced to about 1/3 length. Husband and I both working from home, reduced hours. We don't go to church or anything like that, I just don't have anywhere to sell the chocolates and I don't have time to go doorknocking plus I have a toddler. We aren't allowed to sell them at school.
Would it be rude for me to just return the chocolates and say I cant manage it?
Has anyone said no to fundraising?


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ANSWER
3 years ago
Honestly at the moment it’s completely understandable especially if you’ve been given multiple boxes, have a quiet word with someone on the committee and explain your situation. I’d hope they would understand and be supportive.

ANSWER
3 years ago
If you can’t sell a box they normally ask for some sort of cash contribution, what kind of chocolate are in the box?

ANSWER
3 years ago
Really don't approve of selling chocolates especially at school. It doesn't promote healthy eating and it doesn't align with our schools healthly eating policy.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I make a small donation instead of selling

ANSWER
4 years ago
I support most fund raising but not chocolate selling. Its the easiest for the school/club but the worst for parents. You can't sell the chocolate, if you take it to work its gets pinched, they can't sell it at school, family and neighbours might buy one. You basically get stuck buying the lot yourself. Buy a couple out one box and return them.

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REPLY
4 years ago
So true

ANSWER
4 years ago
I was once a fundraising manager for my kids play school and we did the chocolates. It was one of the easiest fundraisers to do as lots of people that had office jobs, would just take a box to work and they would sell quickly.
I would never be upset if someone returned unsold chocolates, but I would be a bit offended if people refused to take them.
Also, it would frustrate me if people would drag their feet in returning them, as some families would take forever to get them back to me, while other families were asking for more to sell.

If you've taken the box, good on you. Don't feel bad if you can't sell them. Just try and return them promptly once they are trying to wrap up the fundraiser. Even if you sell 2 or 3 when guests come over.

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REPLY
4 years ago
A lot of workplaces don’t allow them anymore. My and my husbands work don’t. And I’m not going door knocking .

ANSWER
4 years ago
When you say no remember all the people who coach, score and so things around your clubs are volunteers ... they give their time for your child and without them the sport your children play wouldn’t exist. Clubs cost money to run beyond the fees. A lot of clubs keep fees at a minimum and the exorbitant costs come from associations running and organising the clubs and their insurances - it’s certainly the case at the club I am secretary at and I can tell you we don’t make a cent towards running our club off junior members - we rely solely on fundraising.
If your not willing to do your bit take your kids to a club with a higher fee structure who won’t rely on you so much to participate at a club level to give back.
I personally think it’s a disgusting attitude especially if your doing nothing else to help out at the club.
Shame on you

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REPLY
4 years ago
Nice assumptions there, both that our fees are low (they arent, highest in the area) and that I dont do any volunteer work. I do score, time, do bbq, help with the website, and Ive done an absolute f**ktonne of volunteer work in my life so get off your high horse thanks.

REPLY
4 years ago
Actually the more I think about this post the more annoyed I am. Over the years we have supported lots of fundraisers, always helped out at the bbq, bought drinks at the bar etc to support them and the one year we cant afford it because we have both had pay cuts you try to shame me? The shame should be on you for making people down on their luck feel bad.

REPLY
4 years ago
^ You go OP. She has no idea and definitely no right to make those assumptions. I bet you're doing a fucking awesome job xx

REPLY
4 years ago
It doesn't matter if you don't volunteer, if no kids play they won't have a team.

REPLY
4 years ago
I’m with you OP. So sick of people who make assumptions.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I don't do fundraising at all. Since the school started enforcing school uniform thats their contribution. I don't pay for casual days, raffle tickets absolutely nothing.

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REPLY
4 years ago
This is pretty poor form.

REPLY
4 years ago
So is forcing people to pay a fortune for uniform.

REPLY
4 years ago
Sooooo much judgment

REPLY
4 years ago
After my son lost his third $60 jumper in six months I wrote a note saying he would be wearing a school colour but not logo one until one was found. After that all the parents did the same. After that the compulsory uniform was less compulsory.

REPLY
4 years ago
So why not teach your kids to be responsible for their own belongings? I don’t understand why parents just can’t be supportive. I loathe people who complain for the sake of complaining.

REPLY
4 years ago
Supportive towards the school that is meant to say. Teachers really are underpaid for the crap they have to deal with. Some families are just beyond ridiculous.

REPLY
4 years ago
Calm down you lot ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

REPLY
4 years ago
that your childs responsibility lol.
If my child lost a jumper three times he would be going to school without a jumper till he has earned enough money to buy a new one for himself. Losing it 3 times shows zero respect for his things.

REPLY
4 years ago
OMG. It isn’t up to the school to keep tabs on your child’s belongings.

REPLY
4 years ago
You need to teach your child to look after his things. Out of my 4 kids NOT ONE has EVER lost anything at school. Not a jumper, not a hat, not a drink bottle. Everything that goes to school comes back. Maybe you should focus on your child instead of blaming the school because you've raised an irresponsible slob

REPLY
4 years ago
How does irresponsible equal slob? Why resort to insults?

REPLY
4 years ago
Lack of intelligence? 🤪

REPLY
4 years ago
Re: lost jumper.
The not buying another was meant to making him take responsibility to find it, he was going to look different to the other kids. Though then lots of other kids started wearing plain jumpers too, but that's what you get for selling the uniform at such an inflated price.

REPLY
4 years ago
Re: lost jumper how do you know the kid doesnt have special needs or other people steal it?

REPLY
4 years ago
^ 👍👍

REPLY
4 years ago
You don’t, but. I have to agree with the majority who are putting the onus on the child first. I believe, If said child has something wrong, then the school will in most cases be on board to come up with an approach to support the child. There are a lot of very good points made by people, and then there are the people reacting coming in with insults, or telling them to calm down. I feel like leaving this site so many times because people are unable to discuss

REPLY
4 years ago
Its entirely my sons fault. He is just lazy, I told him when I bought the 3rd jumper thats it. I couldn't send him without a jumper so I bought him a cheap one. I explained to the school that he wasn't going to be bought another and if they had an issue they could make him not wear the cheap one, its up to them.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Is it koalas and frogs? My niece was given a box to take home and sell from her netball club. My sister knew nothing about it, a month later she was asked for the money. My niece denied being given the chocolate, and the club expected her to pay for it. Now you have to sign a form saying you took a box home.

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REPLY
4 years ago
OP yes frogs. Ive done it in the past but this year I dont have the option to as I cant take them to work.

REPLY
4 years ago
Just return it. It was silly of them to expect fundraising during a pandemic.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Just say here is a donation to the fundraising (give them 10 dollars or so), but we don't sell chocolates.

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REPLY
4 years ago
same

ANSWER
4 years ago
If the club is stupid enough to do a fundraiser at the moment, they deserve to have all the chocolate returned.

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REPLY
4 years ago
👍👍

ANSWER
4 years ago
Back in the day it was your kids job, not yours. If you can’t give it to the ‘after’ school at pickup to try sell, or they can’t try a few friends or neighbours, then yeah I’d return them. I would have refused them straight up..life is honestly too hard, I get your stress

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REPLY
4 years ago
I didnt get a chance to refuse them. The kids were sent home with 100 each to sell (x3 as I have 3 kids who play). Most of the kids at our club also go to the same school. Ive done it in the past or just donated the money but this year its a bit much.

REPLY
4 years ago
Oh man that sounds horrible, definitely return them- what were they thinking- all three kids?!

ANSWER
4 years ago
Given all this covid I wouldn’t go door knocking anyway. Personally I would pay for a box myself and return the rest

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REPLY
4 years ago
Normally I would and I have done before but if you read the OP I have 3 boxes of 100 and both my husband and I have had pay cuts due to CV so we dont really have the spare cash.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I won’t allow my kids to go door knocking and I’m not allowed to have them at work. We always get pressured into one box and my husband takes it to work. But people take the chocolates saying they’ll put the money in the box on their lunch break but they rarely do. We end up paying for most. Not doing it anymore.

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REPLY
4 years ago
Yeah Ive heard this happens. Its crap that people steal at the workplace.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I usually just pay for the box. No time to sell chocolate here.

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REPLY
4 years ago
Normally I do but it feels a bit rough when weve both had pay cuts and already payed out 3 lots of high fees which they got to use very little of.

ANSWER
4 years ago
You are allowed to say no. I’m sure if the year had taken a different path, then you may well be in a position to say yes. Please don’t feel bad about saying no. I can promise you that you won’t be the only family saying no to fundraising.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I say no to all fund raising, always have, always will. Say no with no shame and be free of that shit :)

ANSWER
4 years ago
Before kids, I would just buy the box myself for my sports club. Neither my husband or I could sell them at work, and most of my friends were part of the club, so I couldn't sell them to them. If you have no one to sell them to then return them. Maybe buy a few yourself if you've got some spare money.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I think it’s fine to say no. It sounds like you and your husband are doing a great job already so don’t worry about it.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Yea its okay to say no.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Lots of parents say no to fundraising. Which is fine, whatever, I've done it before. But then it puts even more pressure on those who are volunteering, running things and fundraising without assistance from people using the services.
We kinda need to contribute too (not just with fees) if we want other people to continue to give their time up for our kids activities.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I say no to selling chocolate, and I'm on the fund-raising committee.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Don't do it. Now is not the time to overextend yourself.