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Have any of you done a fundraiser (like candy sales, etc.)?


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I'm kinda piggybacking here... I was curious after reading some other posts on the subject of fundraising if any of you have done it with the purpose of raising money for your children to attend camp or some other extra-curricular or summer program. Please share your experience (and esp. websites that you have used and trust).

 

TIA!

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Sorry, I wouldn't even sell candy when the sports team & 4-H club wanted us to. No advice here. I did the buyout for the sports team, I think the 4-H club learned their lesson of not asking the parents what they thought first, several others would not sell it either. I am making a small donation. I hate selling stuff, I hate when others ask me to buy stuff.

 

Kristine

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I also dread selling but have helped my dc do their share for various activities. We simply do not have the $$ to "buy out" of sales like that. The most pressureful one was when my ds did Pop Warner football and the coaches emphasized that if "you don't do your share, you won't be going to the playoffs". :glare: I could not do that to my ds in his one and only season of football! So we stodd outside of stores, gas stations, etc. We would ask permission, of course. Most gas stations were fine with it; several stores were not.

 

One of our most successful sales was peanuts. We sold them at a local park and people would come up to us and ask to buy them, rather than us having to approach them! :) Houston's was the brand name and I believe they were $2 or 3 a bag.

 

I find it daunting to make $$ on an individual basis, because people seem more willing to support the local PS or the local winning team than they do an aspiring dancer or homeschooler wanting to go to camp. :confused:

 

I have had it suggested that we might do better with a catalog party if we know someone who sells jewelry, Mary Kay, etc. Or you could have a yard sale spcifically for fundraising. Include drinks and cookies for sale! I went to a homeschooler's yard sale once that was very cute, with tons of curriculum and snacks and drinks, with friendly kids helping out. They even advertised that they had homeschool stuff for sale. Or aybe you and your kids could make something that would sell in a local gift shop or consignment store. I'm thinking out loud here, b/c we have some things we want to do this summer and next fall and we need $$ that isn't going to just fall in our laps!

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I also meant to add taht when I see *other* kids selling stuff I no longer walk past with a huffy look like I used to (blush). If I don't want or can't afford the product, I'll give them a dollar or some change. The kindness of strangers inspired me! People used to say, "Oh, I don't really want/need that, but here you go!" and they'd give my dd or ds a dollar; some even gave a $5 and once we got a $10!

 

One of my kids' biggest *fun* sales was slushies. They made about $14 in two hrs in our front yard! :D

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I'm afraid I really loathe being asked to sell stuff like that, and I also loathe being asked to *buy* it. I won't even buy GS cookies any more because I find the whole thing so offensive.

 

(BTW, I'm not rude to kids or parents stuck doing this. I just say, "no, thank you" -- I know it's usually not their choice to be sucked into this.)

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To me, it depends on how old the kids are. If the child is early elementary, I figure they are working for the money through their 'retail' efforts. But I think the kids should be manning the table with the goodies - not sending Mom and Dad off to work to hit up their co-workers, family etc. I might actually buy even if it is not something I really need or want.

 

If the kids are older elementary, I would expect them to be selling something that is beneficial to me. That's how commerce works. You sell something I want at a decent price, I'll buy it.

 

If the kids are teen-agers I expect them to mow lawns, babysit, work at McDonald's, fix computers. . . ie. they are working to raise their own money. I was quite miffed when a neighborhood boy (18 yo) came around last year asking me for a donation for him to go on a trip. Excuse me? Get a job!

 

Note: I am expressing what I think privately when I see this kind of fund raising going on. I do not go around telling parents or kids what I think of their latest fund raising attempt! :lurk5:

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I abhor selling anything. I'll buy from anyone, provided we desire the product or service. No guilt tripping into purchase, though. That includes from my own children or exchange students.

I would rather pay the money in lieu of selling unwanted cr@p. Having four kids in competitive sports, I often have to explain this. Time is money...and I just don't have the time to waste.

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