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

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

Thanks for the reminder, Mardy.

No one has to donate to the five charities, but if they do, MN will match their donation. There's no dictatorial behaviour happening.

[OutragedFromLeeds]

I don't think anyone thinks that disadvantaged children shouldn't have a birthday cake. It's a cheap and easy to come by thing though. If a child hasn't got a birthday cake then their problems are likely to be such that a birthday cake is the very least of their troubles. Therefore donating to buy them a birthday cake is a bit pointless. Use your time and money to help a charity that can really help them.

[OddFodd]

Thanks for the heads up Mardy. I'd forgotten about his but have donated now :)

[RandallFloyd]

Woolly thugs

[GarlicJuneBlooms]

I donated to Women's Aid, sirzy, which is still well short of target. I always send them the odd few quid, as I advise so many MNers to consult their helpline! I need to make efforts to keep it funded :)

To whiners/critics: Which of the charities would you like MNHQ to donate to? Because they'll match a donation of yours.

[PhaedraIsMyName]

The birthday cake thing is a bit strange. If a family is too poor to afford a birthday cake then the child is probably missing out on birthday presents and birthday parties too. Not to mention possibly other essential items.

It does rather seem more of a way of promoting a home-baking business than say, if a parent can't afford a birthday celebration here is a gift voucher to spend. Either chain store vouchers from HMV etc or possibly a local scheme with a number of participating shops.

[Cocolepew]

Blimey some people are taking this thick. Donate or don't donate . I'm sure Mardy isn't planning on hunting anyone down I donated. Please don't hurt me

[WhatNowBrownHow]

"Being Vegan, the only two [charities] I would consider"

Between that sentence and 'Cake for Kids' as a worthy cause I'll give you all my money to whichever charity you want cos it's worth the laughs

[LtEveDallas]

Cheers Mardy.

I'll be honest, I'd seen the thread but ignored it because it seems like half my mates are currently riding/marching/running for charities so me and JustGiving are on first name terms right now .

But you've embarassed me and given me a kick up the arse to donate

Cheers mate

[GarlicJuneBlooms]

Then don't choose that one, Phaedra, choose another :) FWIW, I never support those charities that organise amazing holidays for dying children; my reasons are similar to your objection to the cakes. But I appreciate how much it means to the beneficiary families. I guess if you cannot afford any sort of birthday for your DC, bar extra baked beans at tea-time, a proper cake's going to mean a lot. My money goes to things I deem more urgent, but that's not to say the cakes aren't worthwhile.

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

I think the cake thing is sweet. We might not be able to fix a child's housing situation or make their poorly mum better but we can give them a moment of happiness on one day a year. It's the little things, surely?

I think the tone of the OP was a bit harsh but it got people donating. Maybe next time a bumped reminder thread in AIBU and chat?

[TheFairyCaravan]

I've donated to the cake charity and am just about to sit down with my knitting for the Woolly Hugs.

[CheeryName]

MNHQ asked MNers to nominate charities, so if you don't agree with the selection you should have spoken up at the time!

I think it is a brilliant thing that MN are doing.

[BIWI]

"It's such a stupid idea.Are the |MNHQ team so arrogant that they think we should want to give money to the charities they choose?Why wouldn't people give money to the charities we choose ourselves"

How lovely.

Just so that you know, MNHQ asked us all to nominate charities that we wanted to donate to, and they chose from those. Oh, and the additional promise was that they would match however much we all donated. The result being that the charities got twice as much.

So they are hardly 'arrogant'

Some very unpleasant and ignorant posts on this thread. And what a shame when MNHQ are trying to do a good thing.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Well we've spent today driving round stoke on Trent to meet the marathon at the start, mid way point & end to support a friend who was running as well as all the others.

He was running for a charity for disadvantaged children in his area. Several parents from ds's school were running for the memorial fund of a 9 year old boy who recently died.

So we have chosen to donate to those causes.

[sunshinecity17]

re Woolly Hugs- upthread I assumed people were being paid for their work assembling/posting blankets.If that is not the case then I take that back.

[BiscuitCrumb]

If the OP had simply bumped the original thread we wouldn't have this... 'this charity isn't worthy, this charity only covers England blah blah'. Sigh.
The OP has been here long enough to know this ALWAYS happens when someone takes it upon themselves to 'tell us all off'.

[Fram]

AFAIAA woolly hugs is MNers knitting blankets for other MNers. Those MNers that can't knit offer yarn/needles to those that can. I have knit squares previously- there was no-one being paid for their contribution, some of which were extremely considerable.

[hazeyjane]

Sunshinecity, woolly hugs is all voluntary. Your post about PDA is offensive and inaccurate.

Thanks op for the reminder, it reminded me to donate.

I fundraise for 2 different charities that are close to my heart but try to make small donations to other causes if I am able.