to be disappointed that MNers haven't got off their arses and

[MardyBra]

exceeded the targets for the MN giving week?

Here's the thread link:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/2087731-Giving-Week-is-here-donate-funds-to-MNer-nominated-organisations-and-MNHQ-will-match-them?msgid=47541127

Wikipedia tells me that there are 4,800,000 monthly users of MN. So if we all just get a quid each, that'd be £4.8m. So £25k should be more than achievable.

I see that some of the causes have reached their target, but what Womens' Aid have only had just over a grand.

MN are offering to match our donations, and there's gift aid too, so it's a very effective way of donating.

A quid each. More if you can afford it.

NOW

There are some truly nasty, small minded opinions flying around this thread.

How dare you say that Woolly Hugs is anything less than a group of people knitting and crocheting blankets to bring some sense of comfort to people that really need it.

Oh and why the hell shouldn't every child have a birthday cake? That's an important and happy memory that a child will have when there are few of them in their lives, but of course, it's not solving world hunger or stopping domestic violence so obviously it's not important.

Everyone will have a charity that is important to them, a cause they are passionate about, some may seem less to you but actually make a huge difference.

If you don't want to donate then don't but some of your attitudes stink.

People can say what they like/think.

I don't have a credit or debit card.

God yes, those woolly hugging bastards.
Spending their own time knitting beautiful blankets which they then give away. To sick children.
Greedy gits.

BIWI - I respond better to basic politeness if that's what you mean?

I know the op was being deliberately controversial, but using phases like 'bloody hell' & 'FFS' really doesn't work for me. But she posted in 'AIBU' so was obviously expecting a varied response leading to more traffic - so job done really.

Titsalina, excellent point! How sad for a young child to be without a cake on their big day. Small children know all about cakes and blowing out candles. If a simple cake can make a child's life brighter, even for day, it is worthwhile.

Really? Cakes?

Eep, people seem to be taking the wording of the OP a little too seriously. Perhaps you should have put [light-hearted] at the end Mardy?

Surly people can see OP is coming from a good place?

If you don't like a charity don't donate. Doesn't mean you have to try to belittle the work they do though.

Which charities haven't reached their target yet? I'm on meh phone at the mo but when I am on my computer later I will donate a bit to one of them.

My last extra charity donation was to Shelterbox. They're more emergency disaster relief than cakes. But they don't usually operate within the UK. They're in the Syrian refugee camps at the moment.
Support whatever charities you like, just don't try and guilt me as a strategy.

I'm disappointed that a random Mnetter is playing at being bloody Bob Geldoff.
I give to the charities that I feel fit too thank you.
Also, charity begins at home.

Woolly hugs? Woolly thugs more like. They are all rich I tell you, rich.

I'm sure Mardy was at home when she posted.

at MollyHooper

Thanks for the reminder Mardy, I wouldn't have remembered to donate without it.

Much of this thread is pretty horrible. Slagging off charities FFS. if you can't say anything nice in the face of well intentioned effort, don't say anything at all.

Actually I think the criticism of 'slagging off charities' is an interesting point. Probably not the right thread for such a discussion. But the perception of charities as fluffy do-gooders distributing benevolence to the deserving is one which should be challenged when necessary, IMO. A charity can also be a highly-politicised environment with a multitude of stakeholders all with conflicting interests and priorities. Anyway, like I said, probably not the right thread.

I agree Guitargirl, but it's so much more personal on this thread because MN have promoted a couple of very small charities run by a handful of people who - I think - really are doing it out of the kindness of their hearts.

The cynical observations about their motives/achievements must read like a personal attack.

I think we ought to respect that potential sensitivity.

There are also five charities to chose from, or none at all. It's a thread on the internet at the end of the day not someone coming at you with a tin or knocking the door.

I think the cake thing is sweet too. Everyone associates birthdays with a cake- why can't a disadvantaged child have one too?

I support charities in the country I live in. Also, put money in donation boxes when in the UK.

I'm in the middle of cooking, but I am going to donate to the cake charity. My kids would've been really sad had they not had birthday cakes.

I didn't realise this was going on. So YANBU to raise awareness.

And 'parp' to whomever said they don't believe in PDA. A rather lovely MNer I know has a child with PDA, and I think it's certainly a condition that needs more awareness-raising, let alone more funding pushed its way.