Instead of working to achieve a goal. Today the local Girl Scouts are stationed on the corners on the main drags through Jerkwater today, wanting donations to “make their dream come true” by giving them a handout so they can go to Dallas or some such. I resisted the urge to suggest they do a bake sale, or car wash, or sell Girl Scout Cookies, or DO ANYTHING other than organized panhandling. It’s not just the Girl Scouts here, seems like every other week there’s a gaggle of kids from college age on down posted at intersections wanting donations. Soccer club, Little League, band camp, you name it.

A couple that I haven’t noticed doing this are FFA and Boy Scouts (or whatever they’re currently called). Kudos to organizations who don’t institutionalize begging by our kids.

I couldn’t agree more.
I will buy the cookies or the cheap wrapping papper and get my car washed (again) but I refuse to give anything to people who beg in public no matter what they claim the cause is.

I'm glad I'm not alone in this line of thought!

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
I couldn’t agree more.
I will buy the cookies or the cheap wrapping papper and get my car washed (again) but I refuse to give anything to people who beg in public no matter what they claim the cause is.

^This. Different youth groups stand around at the entrance of our Publix grocery and go the same thing. They get nothing from me. Have a car wash and you'll find me much more willing to crack open my wallet.

I would have make a point to get the name of their scoutmaster (mistress?) and call the person to explain it to them.

Really. Might as well issue them heels and fishnets.

Yeah it drives me nuts when I see a school band or athletic team standing at street intersections begging for money. Do some form of a fund raiser teaching them something more than to just beg for money.

Quite a bit of this goes on here too, but at the entrances to stores. I may give a little if they are offering baked goods. Otherwise, nada.
It has not gotten to the point of intersection begging yet.

It all depends.

I will usually buy cookies, cupcakes, candy from kids of whatever group. I will not just "Give me a Dolla".
But then again I seem to always find a 20 for the elderly gentleman collecting for the VFW.

I won't give organizations, especially youth organizations, money for nothing. It teaches them a destructive principle

Just be smart about it. Set the cookie stand up next to the medicinal marijuana store.

My father was a Rotarian and put on a carnival every fall for their charity fundraiser. He was in charge of the pony rides and I helped. Fond memories. He disdained clubs that begged and passed that on to me. Firefighters soliciting at busy intersections with their boot drive don't get a dime from me.

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
Just be smart about it. Set the cookie stand up next to the medicinal marijuana store.

Or the one I saw recently set up outside of Weight Watchers.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
I couldn’t agree more.
I will buy the cookies or the cheap wrapping papper and get my car washed (again) but I refuse to give anything to people who beg in public no matter what they claim the cause is.

^This. Different youth groups stand around at the entrance of our Publix grocery and go the same thing. They get nothing from me. Have a car wash and you'll find me much more willing to crack open my wallet.

It seems like Publix is especially bad with people begging out front. The one local to us has a fixture there in an electric wheelchair at one entrance. The other entrance rotates between other groups.

I got my $15 bag of popcorn outside the Lowe’s store this morning from a Cub Scout. Same size bag at Safeway costs about $5.

quote:

Originally posted by cne32507:
My father was a Rotarian and put on a carnival every fall for their charity fundraiser. He was in charge of the pony rides and I helped. Fond memories. He disdained clubs that begged and passed that on to me. Firefighters soliciting at busy intersections with their boot drive don't get a dime from me.

My daughter is an EMT for our local Emergency Squad. She is also the Drum Major of our high school marching band. When her Emergency Squad did a "can shake" she was on the field with the marching band. Because she did not attend the "can shake" she can not vote on the squad elections. I told her to ride with the other squad in town.
I never give money to groups outside of the stores. They can sell something or do a car wash as others have stated. But we really want to go to Disney on your dime!!

There are quite a few people who agree that kids raising money should try to earn it somehow. The swim team my son is on has car washes. Quite a few people just go through the line and give money without getting a wash. They all say the same thing, they're just happy to see the kids working for it.

At least they aren't knocking on my door selling their crap.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
At least they aren't knocking on my door selling their crap.

I'd much rather have them working selling a product (going door to door or setting up a stand at a busy place) instead of standing around panhandling.

the only group that I will give to that utilizes that approach is when the fire fighters are in the street looking for donations into the fire boot

I will stop and give money (like $5 or whatever) but won't let them wash my car particularly if I am out in the 355 and the Taco is a bit big for high schoolers tom try to wash by hand