to be livid at schools 'theft'

[misscutandstick]

I am absolutely livid.

I have just spent the last 2 days working my one off sorting thru nearly 30 boxes of toys (I have 5 sons)...why?

well I had decided that the bedrooms were far too cluttered and enough was enough and some needed to go. So i was going to have a sort thru the house and carboot the surplus crap clutter. Then i got a letter home from DS4's school (they attend a total of 4 different schools) saying that they were having a summer fayre THIS SATURDAY, and could anyone donate stuff for it?

Okay i thought, worthy cause, donate it to them and let them raise some school funds. However this meant i had only 2 days to get said job completed - not easy with a stroppy 4y/o who is only out the house in the afternoons, and doesnt miss a thing. Anyway, pat on the back job successfully completed and caretaker came to escort assorted bags and 10 boxes away without DS4 watching.

HOWEVER...

at approximately 3.30pm this afternoon upwards of half a dozen people were seen by my husband and neighbour casually walking down the street with OUR stuff in hand!!!

GGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Okay some of me says i was donating it anyway, and since i wasnt going to profit then whats my beef? equally, actually i was going to carboot it, and it would probably have been worth about £200 (there were lego sets, and fisher price toys {incrediblock, drop and roar dino, peekablocks x50}, etc all good quality in excellent condition - i dont like passing on crap). But i wanted the school to benefit from the cash... not the PTA who got their hands on it first!

And if id have carbooted i wouldnt have run myself ragged trying to make sure it was done in 2 days! Admittedly it is very difficult to get a babysitter to have 5 children from silly O'clock in the morning... but still...

AIBU to be so utterly disgusted, upset, livid, feeling ripped off and used?

[laweaselmys]

Oh sorry, misread. In books I would guess maybe it was a case of too much to do on the day PTA took your boxes home to sort. I'd still be having a peek to make sure it made it's way to the stalls tomorrow though!

[laweaselmys]

boxes sorry.

[GossipMonger]

YAB totally U!

No one has stolen the stuff!

they have either been given it to ticket or have had an opportunity to purchase before the fete!

Chances are they are working there and wont have chance to walk around tomorrow.

We frequently do this or else my boys would get nothing as both DH and I run stalls.

check your facts before you accuse the school of stealing.

[misscutandstick]

just want to thank you all for your replies, it has made me feel much better {incidentally i really didnt want to spoil the weekend for myself at all, DH has taken the 4 oldest camping, and its the first time in around 8yrs that i have to house almost to myself, and for a whole w/e too! }

The blokie that had taken the incrediblock (and its huge!) was just walking down the street with just that one item, it wasnt sat on anything. just wanted to clarify.

think i will have a peek tomorrow, and try not to brood - thanks guys do feel much better.

[ingles2]

sorry misscutandstick but this sort of thing pisses me off no end!
of course..it must be that PTA members are getting free stuff / first dibs on your unwanted stuff!
the annoying group who stand in the playground, you know...the ones always asking for money and demanding half an hour of your time... jeez
I'm chair of the PTA and let me tell you it's a bloody thankless task.. sorting through peoples stuff, spending hours of your time trying to raise ££££ for the school, begging to help / buy a raffle ticket because the head would like to build a new playground / library or buy books ... you know, non essential stuff!!!!
Things that make your child's school better and you're child's experience there a happy one!
You carry on wondering if they've nicked your leftovers because quite frankly IMO if you've got 5 dc's you should bloody well be involved!

[misscutandstick]

X POST GOSSIP, too late im feeling much better! but many thanks for your opinion. X

[ingles2]

am so typos galore. apologies.

[misscutandstick]

ingles, with 5 children at 4 different schools, (and BTW 3 have SN) when would you like me to fit it in?

My eldest in college p/t needs help in attending due to his needs. One in seniors 6miles away no school bus. One in juniors again 6miles away again no bus. One in Nursery with SN only attends half days and often needs to be picked up early as not coping. One not in school yet with severe SN. complete with numerous clinics and appts.

and if Ingles, they dont want my crappy rejects, why were some seen with only 1 or 2 items???

[GossipMonger]

They will have given a contribution! not nicked it!

[misscutandstick]

I shall attend tomorrow and whatever the outcome i WILL let you all know!

If i have to eat humble pie, then so be it.

However the downside is if 'they' (meaning whoever, not a particular group) have just taken it, then i have a right to be peeved and the whole ordeal will linger!

[misscutandstick]

incidentally im getting a very 'us and them' kinda feeling coming across... i find that quite strange

[ingles2]

so you couldn't do 1/2 hour tomorrow afternoon then?????
funnily enough I find it difficult to fit in the time as well what with 2 children and a fulltime business to run, but someone has to do it!

[GossipMonger]

As ViceChair of our PTA, the only reason you have for being a them and us situation is because you let it.

The PTA are ordinary people who want to raise funds for the school. End of.

Not a clique. Not a group of do-gooders. Not a bunch of snobs who think they are better than all the rest.

Organisers of money raising events.

Join in and ask how you can help and be part of something that are doing good for the school and dont start slagging them off

[ingles2]

yep... you've created that by suggesting that the PTA would nick your stuff! I think you'll find they are just ordinary mothers trying to help out, Rather like yourself no?

[FabulousBakerGirl]

I think you are entitled to feel annoyed but my advice would be to enjoy your peace and quiet and not let this spoil it. You can't do anything about it now so just enjoy your evening and find out tomorrow what happened.

[GossipMonger]

Hi Ingles!

Have you got a fete coming up soon? Any tips to share?

Have been wondering about a topic for fundraising....do you think MNHQ would sanction it?

[purpleduck]

Some items need checking over to see if it is complete. Some people use this sort of thing as an opportunity to get rid of total junk!!

BTW (and I'm not having a go) Summer Fairs take ALOT of planning, and generally its the biggest fundraiser of the year. Methinks perhaps you have missed the other letters....

[purpleduck]

Ooh Gossip yes!!! I chair our PTA too, and I would LOVE some new ideas

[ingles2]

we have Gossip.... funnily enough I can't get people to help out for love nor money though I started a thread on PTAs earlier this year let me see if I can find it....

[ingles2]

here's the thread... I'll post later

[ingles2]

sorry

[misscutandstick]

Im sorry if ive offended you, that really wasnt my intention.

I only say the PTA because they were having a meeting this afternoon, and that it was them leaving with some things, including the separate items. but perhaps i am jumping to conclusions and its nothing more sinister than your suggestions.

I cant really offer even the half hour - DS5 has GDD, ADHD, and is a non-verbal runner, (to name a few) who is not awfully keen on being strapped into a buggy for half an hour. I was trying to help by donating our outgrown toys - all clean and in one piece, most still boxed. mainly because the boys have very short attention spans and they dont get worn out before outgrowing them.

Its a fabby little school and needs all the help it can get. perhaps next time i will donate to the other schools - that way theres no chance of me feeling peeved whatever may or may not happen.

[LovelyTinOfSpam]

misscutandstick let us know what happens tomorrow

I am reserving judgement

[bigstripeytiger]

It will be the PTA running the fair rather than the school, so not entirely sinister that it was them who were seen with the toys.

[makipuppy]

misscut i know you would rather find out tomorrow that this all has an innocent explanation even if you do eat pie on this thread . You sound great and like you work very hard for your kids.

FWIW, i think it seems strange they were all trouping along together. If anyone was going to 'nick' anything, they would want to hide it from the others no?

Do come back and say!