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Christmas

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to ask you all to consider making Reindeer Food?

118 replies

DrSeuss · 29/10/2011 13:28

Every year, Rudolf and co work hard to bring us our presents, even if they only bring crappy self stirring mugs. If we all pitch in to make them some reindeer food, a delightful mix of oats to fill their tummies and glitter to help them fly, we can sell it at £1 a bag for the charity of our choice and no reindeer will be hungry this Christmas. If you use edible glitter you don't have to worry about any Little Treasures eating it instead of sprinkling it on the garden on Christmas Eve.

OP posts:
HitTheRoadJack · 30/10/2011 15:13

Financially that is.

valiumredhead · 30/10/2011 15:13

Your smart mouth has already cost you a fiver charming!

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 30/10/2011 15:14

I dont think there is an attitude of those who snub the gimmicks are doing no good.

I do detect an attitude of those who enjoy fundraising or those who join in with the gimmicks are a bit thick.

I dont understand this at all. There are different ways and different means and different reasons. They are all valid and useful.

For example. Many people only start to donate blood once they realise how vital it is because someone they love needs it.

Their contributions are vital but they are not enough.

We need more young, male donors for blood and bone marrow and if this takes a bit of fun and gimmickery I am all for it.

Because then my DD might have lived.

peggyblackett · 30/10/2011 15:14

You're missing the point Jack.

In an ideal world everyone would give to charity, no ifs, no buts. Unfortunately, some people like to receive a token for their donation. I don't, you don't, but others do. Therefore if you're trying to maximise the potential funds for your charity you try and appeal to everyone - both the 'I don't give a flying fuck about a small furry bear, however here's my CC number', and the 'I want a trinket/ token/ tatt' for my tenner.

HitTheRoadJack · 30/10/2011 15:16

Peggy if you think charities don't make a profit then you are very naive.

Fundraising is as much about making a profit as it is about helping the sick/needy/homeless etc.

peggyblackett · 30/10/2011 15:19

Of course they make profits. Dont be so patronising, there's no need :).

HitTheRoadJack · 30/10/2011 15:23

I'm not "running away" but am 36 weeks pregnant and need to go and be monitored, but am happy to continue to defend my right to give money to any charity I like, upon my return.

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 30/10/2011 16:40

No one is saying you shouldnt. You have nothing to defend.

Not one person has said you shouldnt do what you do.

You have told people they shouldnt and have been pretty patronzing.

I cant work out why you feel the need. Its a proper puzzle

peggyblackett · 30/10/2011 16:50

You can give to any charity you like, any way you like HTRJ. No- one on this thread is stipulating how anyone should give to charity.

What we are mystified by is why the need to have a patronise those people who choose to fundraise this way. That's totally unnecessary IMO.

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 30/10/2011 16:56

When I was 25 I thought I knew it all too

[patronising face]

Horrible isnt it?

Thats why I tend not to. Its not nice and it winds people up.

slavetofilofax · 30/10/2011 17:17

No one is attacking your right to give moeny any way you choose, so you have nothing to defend.

But you seem to be attacking people who want to use something gimmicky as a way to fundraise.

I don't see why you would do that. If I spend £30 on stuff to create the gimmick, and treat that as my donation as I have no plans to claim the money back from my charity, and that gimmick goes on to raise hundereds or pounds, how can you possibly argue that it's not a good thing? Confused

I agree with you about Children in Need tbh, although I think Comic Relief is worse. They do donate a huge amount of money to good causes, so I don't feel I can criticise too much, but it does annoy me that people (especially celebrities) only give money because of teh gimmickyness that surrounds Red Nose day and Pudsey Bear.

If all the people that bought a red nose, or a spotty handkerchief, or sat in a bath of baked beans for sponsorship, would just give that money directly to charity in the first place then the charity would get more of the money and they would be no need for the stupididty. But they won't. There are lots of people who only ever give to charity when they get something in return, or when they can be seen to be supporting a charity. It's sad that that's the way it is, but that is still the way it is!

The money that comes from those people is as good as anyone elses money so if gimmicky works then gimmicky is the way it has to be. Because those that don't need the gimmicks to give will already be doing it, and even then charities will still be struggling.

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 30/10/2011 17:24

I think the 'sponser a child' charities are a prime example of this (at least they have stopped calling it adopt a child).

We know that we are not suporting that one child, that our money is going to lots of children and the whole community but some people need to have that photo and that letter to make them feel they are doing something.

It works, it does good. But I admit I find it a bit off. I am not even sure why, I did it for a few years and didnt like the little girl writing to me as 'foster mother'. I dont know if they still do that though.

Its not like I disagree with all you are saying, I just feel you are being a wee bit too strident.

I hope the monitoring goes well btw and you are not hooked up for too long.

I am not really mean. I do get wound up when people are patronizing towards me, blame my working class chip if you like Smile

And you are coming over as very patronizing.

slavetofilofax · 30/10/2011 17:24

I should also say that I don't think selling reindeer food is in the same league as the rubbish that comes along with the BBC's charities.

Nor is wearing a poppy, or a daffodil or whatever. Poppies in particular are about rememberance and recognition as much as they are about raising money. The lovely war veteran that I sold a poppy to today in my local supermarket proves that to me.

And daffodils or little hearts or whatever other pins are out there is about charities competing with eachother for the limited amount of money that people are prepared to give. They do it to try and get that person that needs a gimmick to give to them instead of giving to someone else, because without the gimmick, those people wouldn't be giving at all.

DrSeuss · 30/10/2011 20:31

Good luck with the baby Jack. If you are being routinely monitored, then it clearly isn't all plain sailing so I hope it goes well. Please accept my good wishes as they are genuine.

Is this your first baby? I would hazard a guess that it is. I used to hate it when I was told that my attitudes would change post baby as I found that patronising at the time. However, it is true. Having a baby means that you empathise more with anyone who has a sick or disabled child as you can't help but feel how you would do anything to save your own child from that.

To return to the topic of tokens in return for donations, no, they shouldn't be necessary. But they are. I can stand at the school gate with a box for donations or with a box of stuff to sell for charity. Rightly or wrongly, the latter will be far more effective.

You say that you don't know what the woman in my scenario should do. If so, then may I respectfully suggest that you need to think it through. If you reject the idea of tokens for donations, can you in all conscience benefit from the donations the tokens have brought in?

OP posts:
HitTheRoadJack · 30/10/2011 21:34

Yes everything is ok. Movements stopped...but it's just being awkward Second child, 1st is almost 20 months old. Thanks :)

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 30/10/2011 21:58

Glad to hear all is well. Smile

QuintessentialShadyHallows · 30/10/2011 22:04

oh, I thought you actually meant cooking reindeer.

Which I reckon I will, it is part of our Christmas tradition. Santa brings presents on the 24th, and on the 25th we cook rudolf for dinner.

TheFidgetySheep · 30/10/2011 22:48

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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