Is This Tacky?

[Thriftylady]

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.

Well we could, do a lemonade stand if we lived on a busier street. Or maybe I could find another yard to do it in.

[Mike]

Well we could, do a lemonade stand if we lived on a busier street. Or maybe I could find another yard to do it in.

Think outside the box.
Have the stand at your place and advertise it. Some people would actually go to buy a lemonade just to help out.

[Pepperth]

Well we could, do a lemonade stand if we lived on a busier street. Or maybe I could find another yard to do it in.

When I was a kid, I know a lot of kids sat outside the general store to sell their lemonade. Maybe a local business would let you have it there. Although, I also agree with Mike that if you advertise, people would probably come to your house as well.

[sleepinghart]

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.

~Thriftylady, if you're worried about anything like ^^this^^, I would look at it this way- Yes you are asking for donations but you're doing it as part of a lesson for the children, and that's a little different. I would send a note home that starts off with something like- "Due to next week's lesson on charity & giving back to the community we are asking for each child to send in x number of canned goods(or whatever you can spare) if you can". Of course it can be worded much better, that was just something I came up with quickly off the top of my head; and of course you can go on in the memo to explain where the donations are going, etc. All the parents can say is "yes" or "no", and all they can do is send the goods or not send them- Either way, whether you get a ton of donations or just a little or even none at all, the children still get the lesson so nothing is lost, only a great lesson found and hopefully more people fed.

[sahm1225]

~Thriftylady, if you're worried about anything like ^^this^^, I would look at it this way- Yes you are asking for donations but you're doing it as part of a lesson for the children, and that's a little different. I would send a note home that starts off with something like- "Due to next week's lesson on charity & giving back to the community we are asking for each child to send in x number of canned goods(or whatever you can spare) if you can". Of course it can be worded much better, that was just something I came up with quickly off the top of my head; and of course you can go on in the memo to explain where the donations are going, etc. All the parents can say is "yes" or "no", and all they can do is send the goods or not send them- Either way, whether you get a ton of donations or just a little or even none at all, the children still get the lesson so nothing is lost, only a great lesson found and hopefully more people fed.

I love this idea! Can I use it too??

I volunteer at our local food pantry but it's different than yours thrifty. It's set up as a pantry/room that families come into and can take 7 items. I've been volunteering for over a year now and the pantry us the lowest I've seen. We've had to limit how many items they take.

The pantry is walking distance from us so I might just create a weekly curriculum about charity and take the stuff with the kids next Friday:

[Thriftylady]

I love this idea! Can I use it too??

I volunteer at our local food pantry but it's different than yours thrifty. It's set up as a pantry/room that families come into and can take 7 items. I've been volunteering for over a year now and the pantry us the lowest I've seen. We've had to limit how many items they take.

The pantry is walking distance from us so I might just create a weekly curriculum about charity and take the stuff with the kids next Friday:

Wow, 7 items doesn't seem like much, but to those who have nothing, I am sure it is. I know there has been a time or two with ours, that we didn't know where the money was coming from, but the Elders released some from the General fund those times. Our Elders have put huge priority on doing this for those in need in our community, and luckily we have always been able to do it. We do run out of some things some months when we have more people than expected. Sadly then it is the people who don't live in our town that get shorted, but that is because their towns also have churches that do pantries. We don't turn anyone away, but some don't always get as much. I also know that sometimes during the month the church will get a call and one of the lead ladies will go buy milk, eggs etc for a family in need.

A few years ago, DH lost his job suddenly at his last trucking company over a minor fender bender with the semi. When he lost his job, my PTSD, depression and anxiety kicked in big time. I hadn't even considered reopening daycare yet, I wasn't working at all. I went into a downhill spiral fast and was in crisis mode. I actually decided DH was better off without one more mouth to feed, and ran away from home, on foot, in the rain. I really got messed up for a few days. Luckily my team of therapist, psychiatrist and such got me back on track quickly (a couple of days) with hubby's help. Luckily, DH had this job within a week. But during that week of him being off and me being in a bad way, they had outreach. Our youth pastor and his wife actually delivered us groceries that week. Somehow the fact that they thought of us, really helped my recovery. I realized this time in my life was different than when I was with my abusive ex and we were so broke. Then I always had to figure it out on my own. They showed me that someone was on my side, and that made a huge difference. All by bringing a couple bags of food. So, I had helped with the outreach before. But that cemented it as near and dear to my heart.

[sleepinghart]

I love this idea! Can I use it too??

I volunteer at our local food pantry but it's different than yours thrifty. It's set up as a pantry/room that families come into and can take 7 items. I've been volunteering for over a year now and the pantry us the lowest I've seen. We've had to limit how many items they take.

The pantry is walking distance from us so I might just create a weekly curriculum about charity and take the stuff with the kids next Friday:

(^^bolding^^ by me)
~I don't know if you're asking me or Thriftylady as it was mainly all her idea, but if you're asking me about using the note home idea or wording or anything I said then- yes, absolutely of course you can. Please do so- the more people to help the better! Thank youlovethis!

Wow, 7 items doesn't seem like much, but to those who have nothing, I am sure it is. I know there has been a time or two with ours, that we didn't know where the money was coming from, but the Elders released some from the General fund those times. Our Elders have put huge priority on doing this for those in need in our community, and luckily we have always been able to do it. We do run out of some things some months when we have more people than expected. Sadly then it is the people who don't live in our town that get shorted, but that is because their towns also have churches that do pantries. We don't turn anyone away, but some don't always get as much. I also know that sometimes during the month the church will get a call and one of the lead ladies will go buy milk, eggs etc for a family in need.

A few years ago, DH lost his job suddenly at his last trucking company over a minor fender bender with the semi. When he lost his job, my PTSD, depression and anxiety kicked in big time. I hadn't even considered reopening daycare yet, I wasn't working at all. I went into a downhill spiral fast and was in crisis mode. I actually decided DH was better off without one more mouth to feed, and ran away from home, on foot, in the rain. I really got messed up for a few days. Luckily my team of therapist, psychiatrist and such got me back on track quickly (a couple of days) with hubby's help. Luckily, DH had this job within a week. But during that week of him being off and me being in a bad way, they had outreach. Our youth pastor and his wife actually delivered us groceries that week. Somehow the fact that they thought of us, really helped my recovery. I realized this time in my life was different than when I was with my abusive ex and we were so broke. Then I always had to figure it out on my own. They showed me that someone was on my side, and that made a huge difference. All by bringing a couple bags of food. So, I had helped with the outreach before. But that cemented it as near and dear to my heart.

~You know, a lot of times I only donate when asked, or if I know there is a food/canned good drive going on at a school or grocery store or something, and I think a lot of people are like that too. I'm thinking if asked, and if people knew you were in need, they would give enough so you wouldn't be short- I know I would. I'm trying to think of ways to put the word out...a newspaper ad would cost money...so maybe a sign out front or something:confused:. I really believe that those times you know you are going to be short, people would give enough so you won't be, it's just they don't realize the great need for it, don't think about it, etc., but if they knew or it was brought to their attention I absolutely think they'd give more. lovethis

[Thriftylady]

(^^bolding^^ by me)
~I don't know if you're asking me or Thriftylady as it was mainly all her idea, but if you're asking me about using the note home idea or wording or anything I said then- yes, absolutely of course you can. Please do so- the more people to help the better! Thank youlovethis!



~You know, a lot of times I only donate when asked, or if I know there is a food/canned good drive going on at a school or grocery store or something, and I think a lot of people are like that too. I'm thinking if asked, and if people knew you were in need, they would give enough so you wouldn't be short- I know I would. I'm trying to think of ways to put the word out...a newspaper ad would cost money...so maybe a sign out front or something:confused:. I really believe that those times you know you are going to be short, people would give enough so you won't be, it's just they don't realize the great need for it, don't think about it, etc., but if they knew or it was brought to their attention I absolutely think they'd give more. lovethis

Well often times when we are short of regular food, it is because we planned for X number and had more. We buy the milk, eggs, bread, etc that we think we will use that month, because those things can't be held over to the next month. So if we had 35 families last month, and 32 families this month a year ago, we will buy enough for 35 or 36. If we have extra milk or eggs, then we give the extras to the bigger families of 6 or 7 in the household. The canned fruit for the kids though, comes in entirely of donations, it just isn't in our budget to buy it. And although it isn't a need, we have several people that ask each month for something sweet for their kids. I do know that the gal that does the money said she wants to get jello next time we get enough fruit to stretch out the fruit some making a jello salad. I guess I think the kids could get involved with bringing something that was going to the other kids, in fact the same kids they go to school with. We have only one elementary in our town. And our middle/high school complex is in another town, shared by several small towns.