What say you?

[Medusa]

Homewood officials say they just want to shepherd the solicitors to safer locations, like storefronts and train stations.

Better but not good enough. I'm tired of being accosted and a train station is hardly a safe place to take your money out. My local grocery store is one of the worst offenders; girl/boy scouts, HS soccer teams, disabled veterans, the blind, the deaf, church groups, you name it. They ask you when you go in AND when you come out. Inside the store there are sales people trying to get you to buy their product. One man walked up to me yesterday and actually walked beside me as I shopped down the aisle. Finally I said "May I shop now?" and he left me alone after that. It isn't even so much that they ask for donations; it's the manner in which they ask. I feel as though I'm in a live video game or a pinball machine, dodging all these people.

[Husky_mom]

I hate (sorry if word is too strong).. when they ask, as Mary said, on your way in and in your way out.. it even happened to me at my work place, which I went in and out like 10 times or more and all times I was asked.. come on!!..

some causes are worth giving... IMO school trips and such are not.. at least for me.. I give but only when I feel like it.. there´s always this feeling i get with certain people young or old.. disabled or not.. I just get it sometimes adn it makes me give...

at the supermarket they always ask if you wanna round up your tab which I mostly do.. and maybe I wouldn´t because it´s supposed to go to an organization but it never shows up as you donating.. it all ends as the store donating and a way for them to get taxes back .. but since it´s almost a few cents which you won´t get back in change anyway.. (the lowest coin in cents we have is 10 so if it´s not rounded to that... and even at times, it almost always gets rounded to 50 cents )

[Medusa]

I hate (sorry if word is too strong).. when they ask, as Mary said, on your way in and in your way out.. it even happened to me at my work place, which I went in and out like 10 times or more and all times I was asked.. come on!!..

some causes are worth giving... IMO school trips and such are not.. at least for me.. I give but only when I feel like it.. there´s always this feeling i get with certain people young or old.. disabled or not.. I just get it sometimes adn it makes me give...

at the supermarket they always ask if you wanna round up your tab which I mostly do.. and maybe I wouldn´t because it´s supposed to go to an organization but it never shows up as you donating.. it all ends as the store donating and a way for them to get taxes back .. but since it´s almost a few cents which you won´t get back in change anyway.. (the lowest coin in cents we have is 10 so if it´s not rounded to that... and even at times, it almost always gets rounded to 50 cents )

Yep, I forgot about that. Our grocery store always asks "Would you like to donate $1 or more to the literacy program?" or the "Harvest for Hunger" program or whatever one they come up w/that week. The only one that I welcome is the Salvation Army during the holidays. Yet they're not allowed to ring their bell b/c the store says it annoys customers, so they hold up a sign that says "Ding" on one side and "Dong" on the other side. Oh but it's ok for girls to scream right at your face "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?". I told one girl "I'm standing right here. There's no need to shout. And no, I wouldn't." The local Pizza Hut has young girls in short shorts holding signs and yelling at drivers to come in for a $5 pizza. It's just ridiculous!

Maybe I should set up a table at the grocery store or stand in the middle of the road w/a shopping bag and say "Would you like to donate to a 14 year divorcee who is short of funds b/c she donated so much money to everyone else?" Think they'll fall for it?

[happylabs]

I think it is very inappropriate to solicit money in that way.

I worry about giving to these fire companies and other organizations because there have been so many inside thefts from employees or representatives handling the money. It seems almost weekly we hear on the news here in Pennsylvania that someone handling the money has taken money from the fire company, school function, business, etc. Even charities!

[Freedom]

Hmm, I am really surprised at this thread. But reading through the comments, I can understand, I guess.

We don't have solicitations around here. So every Labor Day weekend, it is traditional to see the firefighters out there to fill the boot for Muscular Dystrophy. Jerry Lewis hosts (used to host?) the weekend telethon. Which I grew up watching, either at home or away on camping trips -- where the whole campground tuned in.

And, whether home or camping, we all wait for that "big moment," when some of our local firefighters show up in the local station to turn in what they collected from our community. CHEERS, APPLAUSE and at the campground, we used to go really crazy as we knew the fellows at the small station which served the area.

All part of Labor Day weekend, like having a parade for July 4th. As I said, it is a tradition. So coming from this background, the whole thread surprises me.

[Medusa]

Hmm, I am really surprised at this thread. But reading through the comments, I can understand, I guess.

We don't have solicitations around here. So every Labor Day weekend, it is traditional to see the firefighters out there to fill the boot for Muscular Dystrophy. Jerry Lewis hosts (used to host?) the weekend telethon. Which I grew up watching, either at home or away on camping trips -- where the whole campground tuned in.

And, whether home or camping, we all wait for that "big moment," when some of our local firefighters show up in the local station to turn in what they collected from our community. CHEERS, APPLAUSE and at the campground, we used to go really crazy as we knew the fellows at the small station which served the area.

All part of Labor Day weekend, like having a parade for July 4th. As I said, it is a tradition. So coming from this background, the whole thread surprises me.

I think if you did have solicitors where you are, Sandie, you'd have a better understanding of what we're talking about. I had to run out to the store about an hour ago just to buy a few things. In that short trip Pizza Hut had the girls screaming at cars as they drive by and that irritating man was in the grocery store again and he stopped people as they walked into the store. As I said, I donate often and in good amounts but I do so to my church, my favorite charities and to animal welfare causes.

[lizbud]

I don't like being hit up for money when I go out on errands or a
shopping trip, but it happens all the time. There are panhandlers at most
every shopping mall. Heck, they even stand on the side of streets and
highway intersections with signs begging for money.

[cassiesmom]

Hmm, I am really surprised at this thread. But reading through the comments, I can understand, I guess.

We don't have solicitations around here. So every Labor Day weekend, it is traditional to see the firefighters out there to fill the boot for Muscular Dystrophy. Jerry Lewis hosts (used to host?) the weekend telethon. Which I grew up watching, either at home or away on camping trips -- where the whole campground tuned in.

And, whether home or camping, we all wait for that "big moment," when some of our local firefighters show up in the local station to turn in what they collected from our community. CHEERS, APPLAUSE and at the campground, we used to go really crazy as we knew the fellows at the small station which served the area.

All part of Labor Day weekend, like having a parade for July 4th. As I said, it is a tradition. So coming from this background, the whole thread surprises me.

WGN has aired the MDA telethon in Chicago for probably 25 years now. Bozo the Clown used to appear on the telethon when I was little.

I've been on both sides - soliciting donations at the train station during the morning rush and putting money in the boot before the traffic light turns green (or the Salvation Army kettle). I'm just trying to do some good in the world, not that I can do very much a dollar at a time.

[Taz_Zoee]

I gave money to a firefighter right after 911, but only because he was my friends brother.

Otherwise, I never give to solicitors outside businesses. I usually only donate to people here on Pet Talk in times of need (when I can) or ARF, the shelter I volunteer with.

And when the cashier asks at the grocery store I simply say "not today". At our Safeway, when you do donate they announce over the intercom that there was a donation made on check stand 4 (or whatever #). So of course, everyone looks. No thanks!!!