I was at Safeway on Saturday and upon checkout the cashier asked, "would you like to donate a dollar to breast cancer research?". After I politely declined, her eyes narrowed, and I could almost hear her thoughts: "like a dollar would kill her. Selfish Bitch".
This got me thinking about donations. Before I go on let me tell you that I am all for cancer research, saving the children in third world countries and helping U.S. Americans buy maps. I donate on occasion to organizations I like or participate in 5K walks.
The problem I have is that I cannot seem to go anywhere anymore without getting pressured to give money. At the supermarket they want a dollar, at the drive up window at the bank they want change for "March of Dimes", my work 1)wants me to support our community by donating part of my paycheck each month,
2) asks us to donate food and school supplies, and 3) wants us to buy presents for families in need. Then there's always the person at the highway exit with his sign begging for food that I have to pretend not to see. And its worse at my home. That reminds me, I need to put up a no soliciting sign. I know you college kids mean good, but I don't want to buy your magazines to help fight global warming.
That brings me to mail. Once you donate or do a 5k event, you somehow end up on a mailing list for every single philanthropic event in Washington. Just becuase I did the AIDS walk doesn't not mean I want to participate in every single one. If I did I'd be busy every weekend of the year.
Anyway, I feel like now I'm so innundated with requests to donate that it is having the reverse effect; I no longer want to donate. Well, that's not true, but with so many choices it is hard to pick one. And I certainly don't appreciate the glares I get when I decline to donate.
4 comments:
Same thing happend to me at Safeway last week. The woman checker, who was wearing a bright pink wig to match her breast cancer awareness shirt, gave me the nasty look of death when I declined to donate.
Made me feel like a complete ass!!
That sucks! How rude!
I quit donating to the Humane Society because they kept sending me tons crappy gifts. I couldn't stop thinking "How many of these ugly travel mugs did my $50 pay for when it should be paying to help animals?"
I understand how you feel, but I just had to donate to the breast cancer fund. You know, being such a big fan of them and all...
Safeway keeps panhandling at the register because:
- some people who worry about what the cashier will think of them, do pay up
- the store gets to deduct the charity contribution, instead of the customer who is making the donation
- if you are busy thinking about donating you are not busy checking for errors in prices!!! and there are many of tose (errors, that is - and NOT in the customer's favor)
The best response I have witnessed so far:
SILENCE! ignore them, just as you would if accosted on the street
Another that comes to mind:
Loudly state to the cashier:
No, I only give for cancer of the lower bowel.
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