Chocolate Raffle at preschool - would it upset you?

[MarioandLuigi]

I am fundraising co-ordinator for my preschool (have been for about three years as my different children have gone through). I have organised a chocolate raffle to raise some funds for Easter. We have had one for as long as I have een going (which is 7 years)

One of the parents who's child started at Christmas has complained that its a terrible idea because not all children have chocolate (her little boy included) because parents dont want them to. Aparently she is boycotting it.

Would it bother you? We dont buy our children easter eggs (but my Dad does) but I buy the tickets because I want to raise funds for the preschool. Its a charity run one so apart from funding there is no outside financial support.

Ridiculous woman. Can you reply back saying that you would like her input into fundraising to ensure that nobody else got offended in future and then fob off all the crappy bits of the job on her.

Love knicker ironing as insult, must use this week

what a stupid stuck up twat i feel sorry for her child never having chocolate horrible mother

She is being an idiot. It is a fundraiser, not a moral dilemma!! She could have returned the envelope with some money but asked not to be included in the raffle.

I work at my son's school and we are running a chocolate raffle, I spent today surrounded by chocolate - it was VERY distracting :)

To draw attention further she will probably ask if you got the tickets back, knowing full well that you did. So just say "Oh yes, thanks for that" smile and leave it at that.

She cant have a row with someone who wont argue back!

I think you should send her some dog poo as a consolation prize - in the shape of an Easter egg.

Personally, I think that any pre school event should be inclusive and if a child or parent couldn't participate in something because of an allergy, that would be wrong imo. However, you could get round that by providing dairy free eggs or whatever.

But, if she is just being difficult because her precious child isn't allowed chocolate, she is being a bit pathetic.

Put in the letter that those parents wishing not to partake can make a donation instead. It is after all a FUNDRAISING event not a blardy educational/political/campaign.

Did she really write 'I am boycotting this' on the envelope?!! That's hilarious!!!!!

Suggest that she contributes by fashioning an Easter bunny from rice cakes as an alternative prize.

Dark chocolate is dairy free. Loads of dark chocolate eggs on the market.

Look. An easter egg raffle could potentially 'offend' numerous groups: those whose religion bars gambling (Methodists, I think), and anyone else with a moral, ethical or practical issue with gambling. Religious / secular groups who don't celebrate easter or the original pagan egg-related festivals. Dentists. Vegans. People on a diet. People too poor to buy a ticket. people allergic to chocolate.

But any one of these groups could also choose NOT to be offended and instead be grateful that someone is doing some fundraising for the ultimate benefit of their child, be happy that others are having fun in thier own way, and relaxed about the fact that they can't take part in al of the events, all of the tie.

Would you really expect an alternative CoffeeDodger?

There was a big raffle at DD and DS nursery for a holiday for a family of up to 5 at a villa in Florida owned by the nursery owner (I am in the wrong job ) including flights.

Was non transferable, no cash alternative etc as the dates were for a certain time when the flights were a good deal blah blah. Was no use to us as we are more than 5, and the villa wasnt big enough even if we divvied up for more flights, so we just didnt buy tickets. I certainly wouldnt have expected an alternative just because it didnt suit us!

If you don't like / want the prize for any reason at all, don't buy a ticket. or buy a ticket and donate pize to charity, or just make a donation - you might as well, and you won't disadvantage yorsel much because the chances of winning were so slim anyway.

It's an optional raffle, not part of the daily activities or the Early Years curriculum!

Tell her to get fucked.

tbh, I hate all Raffles/Tombolas/games of chance at fetes/charity fundraisers The whole point is that most entries don't win. Very hard for little ones to understand. They should be able to win something in all entries. And as for adult entries, I know the odds are stocked against me so why should I bother to play? Moreover, even if I do win, I'll probably get something I don't like (onion chutney).

But as for chocolate boycott, very U, imho.

I dont really know what to do as I have arranged for my DH to dress up in a rabbit costume as the Easter Bunny and bring each child a chocolate Rabbit lolly. I made sure there was no allergies (there isnt, just my own DS) but didnt think about parents who didnt want the children to have chocolate.

I wish I had Florida Villa to give out as a prize. I would hide there at Summer, Christmas and Easter raffle times :o

I really can't believe ths mum is getting so worked up about such a trivial thing some people really don't have much to worry about do they?, not everyone wants to eat carob or some such .

I would ask her to provide an alternative and have that in the raffle as well as the chocolate

MarioandLuigi - I think that''s great - don't do anything to change it.

DS has nut and seed allergies. Even If it had nuts in I wouldn't expect a different one. I would eat it myself then buy him a replacement

I'd be fine with it. I'm totally bewildered by people thinking that being over-cautios about healthy food is a healthy aproach to food.

These days, I know many people who look at a Curly Wurly the way I look at arsenick.

dd was given a mars egg -I do allow chocolate but think mars is probably a bit too sickly sweet, so I gave dd buttons and had the egg myself

If kids can't have chocolate now when can they? I don't think babies should but that's IMO and each to their own. dd is 3 and I feel it's important to teach her that everything fine in moderation.

My cousins weren't allowed sweets so they hid them from parents and binged at night leading to lots of fillings in their teeth. At 29 I still have none.

DD does get just as excited over raspberries as she does chocolate which makes me smile. She doesn't see chocolate as forbidden so it's simply not an issue.

In other words, the mother is BU and daft. Just say, I'm sorry you feel that way and carry on.

Christmas Fair at school last year I was given joyous task of being on chocolate tombola stall - it was manic, most popular stall, and from volunteer basis best as although manic was first to sell out!

We also have an Easter egg type tombola which is also manic and a money spinner as we all bring in eggs then pay money to win them back!

However must admit I hate it when I am sent tickets and expected to sell them (with charities I usually send back in envelope provided) and rarely do.

Recently at school we have had comic relief collection, Tsuanmi collection (excellent causes happy to donate) just done Easter Egg tombola, now they have been sent home with envelope to fill with old jewellery - feel guilty because it is in aid of local hospice but really think they are having too many fundraisers in short space of time

No legislating for fuckwittery.

Ignore her.

To expect an alternative is ridiculous, I agree with not alllowing children to have chocolate every day or as a meal replacement but as an occasional treat is fine.
Sadly you cant please all of the people all of the time, they should be thanking you for doing the PTA bits that they cant be bothered to do! I would say, thank you so much for your input, I am handing this over to you next year, perhaps we can take turns? Then show her who can be the best pain in the arse ;-)