THERE’S NO “FUN” IN FUNDRAISING!

You know school has started when your kids start bringing home every fundraiser under the sun–Entertainment Books, trash bags, candy, nuts, wrapping paper, ribs, Norwex (I don’t even know what that is, but somebody thought it would be “fun” to sell it ), Major Saver cards, popcorn, candles. The list goes on…and on…and on…

There has got to be a better way! No, I don’t have a better solution yet, but I gotta tell you, for this chick, “THERE IS NO FUN IN FUNDRAISING!” (Maybe the solution lies in lottery money, gambling taxes, or private sector donations. Somebody out there is making tons and tons of money. And it isn’t me. And it isn’t the schools.)

Doesn’t the school know the term “back-to-school” is code for “back-to-the-wallet”? I mean, once the “back-to-school” light bulb, which has been out for a few months now, comes back on, the meter starts running…and running…and running. Ca-ching, ca-ching, ca-ching!$!

School supplies (which while I’m ranting, are nowadays the cheapest, flimsiest, most dirt-poor-quality items I’ve ever seen), tennis shoes, shirts, jeans, shorts, etc. Not to mention the other fees–class dues, parking fees, yearbooks, school lunches (which go up every year), school pictures, P.E. uniforms, athletic fees, club dues, etc. We parents are broke before our kids even set foot in the building for day #1 of classes.

YET…in spite of all this…it’s time to fundraise! Oh joy! Yes, that’s right. “Parents, it doesn’t matter if you’ve already spent a fortune the last few weeks, we want you to spend more! And if you don’t want to, then try to sucker your poor neighbors, church friends, family members, and fellow employees into spending more!”

Like I said…there’s no FUN in fundraising! Can I get a witness?

After years of spending money on junk I simply don’t need, I must admit I have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the pleas of most fundraisers that walk through (or knock on) our door. It’s not that I’m not supportive of the teams or organizations. It’s that I simply can’t afford to be monetarily supportive of them all. Wisdom would tell the schools to at least wait until October to fundraise. Let parents (and all our broke contacts) recover for 6-8 weeks. Then after that one, maybe hit it again in February-March.

Anyway…there’s my rant for the day. Happy fundraising, y’all! 🙂

Is it just me, or have you had similar experiences? Please let us know how you feel about fundraising.