With the holiday season upon us, non-profits & other charitable organizations are out in full force soliciting donations. I understand this and realize it is necessary for the survival of each group. However, with the poor economy, high unemployment rates, and cost of living increases, I find myself, like MANY others, just getting by and yes, sometimes feel like I'm struggling to make ends meet.
That being said, I would like to mention that I donate to St. Jude's Children Hospital on my own several times a year, I throw a couple of dollars into the Salvation Army boxes whenever I see one, and I make weekly contributions at my church and donate canned goods. Also, my co-workers and I sponsor children each year for back to school and at Christmas time. I'm not saying this to pat myself on the back; I'm saying it because many people are in the same boat as I am and MOST people are doing their part and helping wherever and whenever they can.
So, when I go out to malls, bookstores, and even places like CVS, and I'm inundated with requests in the checkout line to make donations to every place under the sun, I start to get a little fed up. The organizations include hospitals, food banks, literacy organizations, animal shelters, and homeless shelters, just to name a few--and sometimes things just get out of hand.
Look, it's not that I mind them asking, it's that I mind the way that they are doing it. Advertising with signs at the checkout or prompts on the P.O.S. machines where you run your card should be enough. It's a private decision. You shouldn't have to get in line and then be shamed for saying "No thank you" when solicited.
I kid you not, the other day, I heard a woman at Ann Taylor Loft being told by a loudmouthed employee she should 'be a good doobie' and make a donation to St. Jude's. She was enticed by the promise that she could "Ring the Bell" if she gave. What? Are we first graders? She was clearly guilted into it as she had originally said, "not today". And then, when I got in line, I received an absolutely horrified look when I responded with, "No thank you, I donate on my own". As a matter of fact, I then had RE-SWIPE my debit card because I declined the donation on the screen. The cashier said to me in a very condescending fashion, "Well, that's fine, but now you have to re-process your card since you said no". Are you serious lady? Add to this the fact that when I was in there a week ago buying a gift, I was asked to donate, and when I responded with, "No thanks,I contribute on my own", I got, "Well, would you at least like to round up to the nearest dollar? It's only forty cents!" And sadly, I must admit that I was guilted into it that time. Forty cents, whatever. It's the principal, coupled with the fact that ALL of these donations add up.
And, how about when you go into the same store multiple times in a short period of time? The grocery store for example. After donating a few dollars each time I went in for the local food bank, I started to think, "This is getting a little out of hand". And it was. So, I began to decline when asked. And the way some of these people look at you makes you feel like trash.You wonder if when you leave, they are saying "Oh, she must be able to sleep at night knowing others go to bed hungry".
Last year, I was asked to purchase a book for a literacy organization while in line at Barnes and Noble. Um, newsflash; on my list of charities, literacy organizations rank VERY low (maybe dead last). Obviously it must be because I'm ignorant and want people to not learn how to read. Oh wait, actually, it's because I THINK libraries (or, as I like to pronounce it, LIE-BARIES) were established for that purpose. Anyway, when I said no, I was then asked "are you sure?" And then, when I indicated that it was, in fact, my final answer, Chatty Cathy the Cashier moved on to ask if I wanted to sign up for the Barnes and Noble rewards card for $25 a year....guess what my answer was? Had it only been a donation to "The Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good", I would have happily given all that I could.
A month ago, in Petco, I was asked to make a donation to 'feed a hungry pet'. Oh my God, this is really brutal. I have a super soft spot for animals (as they are typically much, much better than people) and I caved and gave five dollars. However, 3 weeks later when asked the same question, I had to say no. I'm willing to bet the MSPCA was called on me shortly after I left the store. Obviously I must be in cahoots with Michael Vick.
I have to say, I am sure to be very pleasant when I am in line in these stores, even when I don't want to be. I'm not coming at them with an attitude and getting it back. I understand what it's like working in retail, I did it for years and some people just suck. My attitude comes out when I'm being, in essence, "bullied" to sacrifice even more of my hard earned money at the register. I'm already overpaying for your crappy merchandise that's made in Burma or Malaysia and will fall apart after one laundry cycle, so looky here; why doesn't your greedy company start producing at least some American made products, and, by pumping money into OUR economy and creating jobs, we, as a nation, can help these non-profits and charitable organizations. Just a thought.
The bottom line is this; enough of our hard earned money is stripped from us by the government and much of it is misappropriated. I wonder, as I cruise the streets of my county, how the roads can be in such horrific condition when so much of my paycheck is going back to the government. We can, and should, as socially responsible and compassionate human beings, all donate to the causes that are near and dear to us. We should NOT, however, be browbeaten and essentially forced into it. I've made a decision; the next time I decline the opportunity to make a charitable contribution and am asked more than once, I am going to ask the cashier if he or she would like to make a donation to my charity---the "Keep Me Warm, Fed and Out of Foreclosure Fund"...I'll let you know what they say.
That being said, to all of our readers, let's try to think of a cause that's important to each of us and make a donation (via free will!)---after all, that IS what Christmas is really all about. Every little bit helps, and when it's done with sincerity it means that much more.
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