Is This Tacky?

[Thriftylady]

Every month, our church does our food pantry outreach. We accept no government funding, as we wouldn't be able to do a devotion for those who come if we did. We mostly serve our village of 3000, but some people come from other towns. We don't turn them away, but their bags are packed last so if we run out of stuff, the out of town families don't get as much. But our Elder's set it up that way, it is intended to help those in need in our little "village" mostly. We don't ask for ID or income, it is on an honor's system. If you come and say you need food, we give what we have until we run out. We keep info from years and months past and buy amounts based on those states. So last month we bought for 35 families, and we had 37, so a couple didn't get milk, bread and eggs, but we do our best. Our church buys enough food to try to give the families a week's worth of food. It isn't really a months worth though, but we try. We give a gallon of milk, a dozen eggs, sliced cheese, a meat item, a four pack of TP, some canned veggies, spag noodles and sauce, cereal, mac and cheese, peanut butter, crackers etc. Those are all things we buy. Then whatever donations we get we pass out also. Other churches in the area help some with food, such as the Methodist church takes up a donation every 5th Sunday in the months with it (so 2-3 times a year) and we get canned fruit with it. So we try to give fruit to the families with kids to give them something sweet. But we never have enough, and our church budget just won't stretch as far as we would like each month.

So I was wondering about asking my kiddos (families) if they would like to donate canned fruit for the food pantry to help other kids in our village. Hubby says he wouldn't, because it is our church, and it is crossing a line. I say all my kids live here, and may like the idea that they are helping other kids. I am not even sure my parents would donate. What do you think?

[Play Care]

I've had a day care collection for our local food pantry. Usually around Christmas time. My feeling is that so long as your church is supplying the food to the community, I don't see what's wrong with doing a collection. Now, if it were for church members in need only, that wouldn't be okay, IMO.

[sleepinghart]

Every month, our church does our food pantry outreach. We accept no government funding, as we wouldn't be able to do a devotion for those who come if we did. We mostly serve our village of 3000, but some people come from other towns. We don't turn them away, but their bags are packed last so if we run out of stuff, the out of town families don't get as much. But our Elder's set it up that way, it is intended to help those in need in our little "village" mostly. We don't ask for ID or income, it is on an honor's system. If you come and say you need food, we give what we have until we run out. We keep info from years and months past and buy amounts based on those states. So last month we bought for 35 families, and we had 37, so a couple didn't get milk, bread and eggs, but we do our best. Our church buys enough food to try to give the families a week's worth of food. It isn't really a months worth though, but we try. We give a gallon of milk, a dozen eggs, sliced cheese, a meat item, a four pack of TP, some canned veggies, spag noodles and sauce, cereal, mac and cheese, peanut butter, crackers etc. Those are all things we buy. Then whatever donations we get we pass out also. Other churches in the area help some with food, such as the Methodist church takes up a donation every 5th Sunday in the months with it (so 2-3 times a year) and we get canned fruit with it. So we try to give fruit to the families with kids to give them something sweet. But we never have enough, and our church budget just won't stretch as far as we would like each month.

So I was wondering about asking my kiddos (families) if they would like to donate canned fruit for the food pantry to help other kids in our village. Hubby says he wouldn't, because it is our church, and it is crossing a line. I say all my kids live here, and may like the idea that they are helping other kids. I am not even sure my parents would donate. What do you think?

~No it is not tacky. It is 100% okay to ask your families to donate, I would if I was in your spot- They can then donate or not...It's up to them, 100% their choice. It's also teaching the kids a valuable lesson..they get a lesson, maybe even their first one, in charity/giving. I say go for it and be sure to explain it to the kids, make a lesson out of it and all. I still remember going into my daycare when I was about 4 or 5 years old with a brown paper bag with canned goods in it for the needy(I remember getting a red dress that morning from Sears and I remember briefly panicking thinking I had grabbed the wrong bag and gotten the one with the dress in it instead of the canned goods but it was okay, I had brought the correct bag to Miss Becky ) and that was my first lesson, or learning about, of the needy...and I don't want to give away my age of course but that has been decades ago!

PS- This is a situation where if someone did tell me asking for charity is tacky, whether it be the person/parent I asked or whoever, they would be corrected very quickly. This would be one issue I wouldn't mince or stumble words with.

[Mariahsaint]

I've had a day care collection for our local food pantry. Usually around Christmas time. My feeling is that so long as your church is supplying the food to the community, I don't see what's wrong with doing a collection. Now, if it were for church members in need only, that wouldn't be okay, IMO.

As an atheist I tend to get a little twitchy about church related things, but that said I understand the good that some churches do for their community.

Like PlayCare said, because it's for the community as a whole, I personally wouldn't have an issues being randomly asked to donate a few items. Now, I probably would have an issue if it was the church asking outsiders for church members only.

Also, you could turn it into something fun! You're not just asking the DCPs too donate food for the sake of donating, you're teaching the little ones. You can discuss how some people are hungry and need the assistance. Go over fundraising ideas for the community. Turn it into a lesson about sharing. On being nice to your neighbor. They do these things in public school, why not do it in Preschool?

[finsup]

I don't think it's tacky at all! Your Church is serving the community and your families are a part of that community. It's a great way for the kids to love and serve others. It wouldn't surprise my families in the slightest given they know we are a Christian family, and running a Christian daycare even though, oddly enough, I only have secular families enrolled. They would still be supportive of helping others, and teaching their children to help others

[momofboys]

Every month, our church does our food pantry outreach. We accept no government funding, as we wouldn't be able to do a devotion for those who come if we did. We mostly serve our village of 3000, but some people come from other towns. We don't turn them away, but their bags are packed last so if we run out of stuff, the out of town families don't get as much. But our Elder's set it up that way, it is intended to help those in need in our little "village" mostly. We don't ask for ID or income, it is on an honor's system. If you come and say you need food, we give what we have until we run out. We keep info from years and months past and buy amounts based on those states. So last month we bought for 35 families, and we had 37, so a couple didn't get milk, bread and eggs, but we do our best. Our church buys enough food to try to give the families a week's worth of food. It isn't really a months worth though, but we try. We give a gallon of milk, a dozen eggs, sliced cheese, a meat item, a four pack of TP, some canned veggies, spag noodles and sauce, cereal, mac and cheese, peanut butter, crackers etc. Those are all things we buy. Then whatever donations we get we pass out also. Other churches in the area help some with food, such as the Methodist church takes up a donation every 5th Sunday in the months with it (so 2-3 times a year) and we get canned fruit with it. So we try to give fruit to the families with kids to give them something sweet. But we never have enough, and our church budget just won't stretch as far as we would like each month.

So I was wondering about asking my kiddos (families) if they would like to donate canned fruit for the food pantry to help other kids in our village. Hubby says he wouldn't, because it is our church, and it is crossing a line. I say all my kids live here, and may like the idea that they are helping other kids. I am not even sure my parents would donate. What do you think?

Our kids' public school system donates canned foods (has a long drive period when kids can donate) & has a LARGE collection donating hundreds of items (probably more like thousands) to our local food pantry which is a faith-based organization. I wouldn't consider not helping others because of that.

[sleepinghart]

~Yeah- The whole time I was reading the original post the thoughts, or concepts of, church, religion, Christianity, etc. never even entered my mind. I read needy families, need food, it's good to help them, that's all .

[Ariana]

I think it is a great idea and those who want to help can and those who don't won't. I would lead with absolutely no pressure about it either way.

On a side note have you thought about getting the community involved in a community garden for the people in need. It really is the gift that keeps on giving and if the community is involved it would be very easy and a much healthier alternative to canned foods. Maybe ask people who already have gardens to donate plants or donate the food they are growing etc. Healthy food is so important and we all know how expensive it is. It is also a great way to get the kids involved in their community.

[Thriftylady]

I think it is a great idea and those who want to help can and those who don't won't. I would lead with absolutely no pressure about it either way.

On a side note have you thought about getting the community involved in a community garden for the people in need. It really is the gift that keeps on giving and if the community is involved it would be very easy and a much healthier alternative to canned foods. Maybe ask people who already have gardens to donate plants or donate the food they are growing etc. Healthy food is so important and we all know how expensive it is. It is also a great way to get the kids involved in their community.

Our church tried that a few years ago. And by our church I mean DH and I, one other person and an elder. No body (including those in our church) wanted to help with the work of it. But lots of people of course needed/wanted food. I was so disappointed, because the church had the land, one member did help by getting the equipment rental place he worked for to donate a tractor to till it and he tilled it. But it seems getting anyone to do the hard work is sometimes impossible. We did get some fresh food to the outreach. It was quickly over run with weeds. Heck my garden is now also, I can't even seem to keep up with just mine. We had an acre for the church one, and I just couldn't do it all myself. DH was home more then and tried to help, but two people doing an acre just didn't work well.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I think that's a wonderful way to get people involved more in helping others in your community. It's easy for the parents, it models good citizenship to the children, and it benefits those in need. Win-win!

[Josiegirl]

I don't see anything wrong with it at all! If it were the holidays people jump all over the place to donate and help the seasonal cause. Well, hunger doesn't just happen during holidays.

[Laurel]

I don't think it is tacky but I wouldn't do it. It has 'nothing' to do with the religion part of it (am also an atheist). I just don't like to ask people to donate. Then the next thing you know, they will be asking me to support their school fundraisers (like selling that stupid overpriced wrapping paper, ). The only thing I have ever asked for is scraps for art projects. I have been given a lot of really nice things but I didn't ask for them. I donate but I don't ask others for donations. I have donated things to my friend's church before.

[MunchkinWrangler]

Not tacky at all! Plus being truthful of how the donations will reach their destination is also good. That way people know it's going to the right place.

I'm open about my beliefs but not to the point of overkill as I respect people's decisions for their beliefs. It's always so awkward to me of why people of other faiths or beliefs are allowed to voice theirs but being Christian and voicing it is taboo.

[Mike]

I think it's a great idea.

Also, you could turn it into something fun! You're not just asking the DCPs too donate food for the sake of donating, you're teaching the little ones. You can discuss how some people are hungry and need the assistance. Go over fundraising ideas for the community. Turn it into a lesson about sharing. On being nice to your neighbor. They do these things in public school, why not do it in Preschool?

Love that idea.

[Pepperth]

Not tacky at all. I did a clothing drive for the foster care closet and the kids really got into it. You have older if I remember right. Could they have a "business lesson" and run a lemonade stand with proceeds benefiting the food pantry? I bet they'd have fun.