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The Schankman Cometh

by PaulSchankman

Last Post 267 days, 3 hours Ago


Hi everyone.

Now that school is back in session, it probably won't be long until all those school fundraisers start.

 Can you tell me when yours is, and how you handle it. Do you sell stuff for your kids or make them do it?

 Do they aggravate you? The fundraisers I mean, not the kids...

 Has your school tried a unique approach, or dropped them altogether. Wouldn't it be easier to just write a check?

 

Give me your thoughts...

tell me your stories...





 

30 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 30
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lilmomma28 read my blog view my photos
Aug 30, 2007 | 11:01 PM

Actually........ We have already been bombarded with Entertainment Books and Mr. Z's... My kids just started school last Thursday. However, being in the Parents' Club I know what these fundraisers are for. I firmly believe in supporting my school. Yes, I ahve my kids sell. Only to family,friends,co-workers though...........

ljh3134 read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 12:34 AM

Many years back, I quit letting my kids sell the fundraiser things for school because the kids are being used. The little guys are duped into thinking they are going to get some awesome prize or money or whatever. Whatever money raised goes to who knows where and may or may not benefit the kids who put their heart and souls into it.

One year, I watched my 7 year old daughter get so excited because they were told they would all get money if they sold a certain amount of something.....it was to be inside a bank and everyone would win something.......the three tootsie rolls that fell out of the bank when she opened it crushed her. That was enough for me!

mr_wildflower read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 5:35 AM

Yes there are a l ot of fundraisers that are bogus... But a lot of them are up n up... these kids such as Marching Band and Cheerleaders are working to raise funds that will get them uniforms... trips to competitions... choirs.... drama clubs.... sports.... etc... our state gives less and less money to the districts each year....

I think the best fund raiser would be to get rid of Matt Blunt

jeanette read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 6:24 AM

I can't afford them anymore.My grandkids are done with that what happened to the .50 cent candy bar.I buy the heck out of them carmel ones and the Tom Watts my kids use to sell.I still have the candle holders I bought many years ago.I will not pay $8.00 for 4 pieces of candy.It has gotten to be to much.Glad I don't live in a subdivision anymore.I use to buy from all them.

LadyCardFan read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 7:08 AM

I would much rather see them have car washes and bake sales. That's what we did as kids. The school gets so much more money.

Did ya hear about the "topless" carwash in NY recently? People paid quite a bit to have their auto washed by topless participants, which were all behind some kind of screen . . . imagine the guys dismay when they got their car back there and it was a bunch of shirtless firemen. I laughed so hard when I heard that the other day on the radio. Actually they may have made more money if they had advertised to women, lol.

gizz
Aug 31, 2007 | 7:18 AM

When my daughter was in school we stopped selling because we had a problem with people ordering and then not paying. One time the school told me I had to pay for it anyways. After that the kids never participated in selling items, but we did cash contributions directly to the school.

Flaglady read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 7:29 AM

I make a donation instead of purchasing products I don't need and the school only makes pennies on the dollar. I do purchase the Entertainment Book and give to someone I know who uses it.

superjaybrd read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 8:28 AM

My daughter's school is selling Innisbrook. Wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbon, candy...
The school gets a 50% profit. I'm not worried about where the money is going, I know it is put to good use.
I do, however, agree that the kids are misled when it comes to getting prizes. The little kids don't realize that the only way they're going to win "THE BIG ONE" is if they have parents willing to take the forms to work and sell everything for them.
I REFUSE to ask my friends to buy stuff. They have their own fundraisers to worry about.
We will only sell to close relatives (UNLESS ANY OF YOU WANT TO BUY THIS STUFF...LOL).
I would rather write a check directly to the school---that's 100% profit.

momof5 read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 8:39 AM

Our school hit us up with a fundraiser the 2nd day of school! I know the money goes towards good use but that stuff is expensive and i wont sell it either. I always tell my kids "i can buy you that prize from the store".
Plus, its kinda hard to sell when you have 4 kids with the same fundraiser packet!!

connie3212 read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 8:59 AM

My son's school had a fundraiser a couple of weeks ago and I make him do a little selling pitch to our family and a few close friends. He is only in kindergarten so we didn't go door to door. Most of the people around here have grandkids so they will be bombarded and I didn't want anyone to feel obligated.

mandm829 read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 9:05 AM

When my son was in elementary school they started the first day of school. Now that he is in the middle school level they seem to wait a week. The current fund raiser is magazine subscriptions....interested??? hehehe

PrincessPaws read my blog
Aug 31, 2007 | 9:35 AM

I can't see why the schools can't wait and sell the stuff. I mean school just started and already they are bringing the fundraisers out. I think the schools could wait and do the fundraisers throughout the school year instead of in the first few weeks of school. Last year my kids were bringing stuff home to sell and it was all in the same 2 or 3 weeks.

perkypolock read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 11:18 AM

The stuff our school sell is a joke. I can purchase the same items different brand just as good at our local mall. As for the prize they offer, I can buy those through LTD...Now, for a prize offer, give them points toward a walmart shopping card.

Whats hard in our neighborhood is the income factory. If the community is a low income area more and likely you will not sell anything but to yourself. Having four boys its gets expensive, and with so many student selling you stay broke before christmas.

Plus, if our district would use the money after profits towards things for the student such as new P.E. equipment..which I know hasn't been bought since I was on PTA..etc. maybe I would start selling again.

Have a great weekend!

julybabe read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 11:31 AM

My secretary's grandson is in kindergarten and they are selling from a company called Cherrydale on line, which means if you do it this way you have to pay by credit card. Not liking that one much.

He can come by and take my order too apparently. Thats the only way I will buy it.

My Senior hasnt got a fund raiser, yet.

candsw read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 11:36 AM

Yes they have started. Sigh!
I hate fundraisers but I know that they are important. I hate that the kids get pulled out of the learning environment and sent in to an assembly were some guy or girl acts like ROnald McDOnald and shows them all the "Cool" stuff they could win if they sell 30-40 items. NOT dollar amount.
My oldest (15) can sell anything. She is a natural and she does her own selling.
I have five kiddos so here is the list of fundraisers that are currently under way.

MY firt grader, third grader and fifth grader are selling from Mr Z's food and gadgets

My 8th grader is selling the $25 Entertainment Book

My 9th grader is selling candy

I would totally break me if I bought from all of them.

Thank God that there is just a Fall and Spring one.

superjaybrd read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 11:57 AM

My daughter's school sold Mr. Z's last year and I was not very impressed...blech!

junonia read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 12:40 PM

Just got done writing out the final check for the final year of fundraising. Bank's Closed!!!
I would rather do that, than purchase the crap they sell.

junonia read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 12:44 PM

In 17 years, I never won any of the raffles, top prize for top seller, or anything. They got alot of money out of me. I didn't let my kids sell it, cause I didn't teach them to be beggars to their relatives or neighbors.

nthelougrl read my blog
Aug 31, 2007 | 1:37 PM

Would rather just write a check.
I can't keep up with the clutter in my house.
On second thought, don't mind magazine subscriptions since I buy a couple every yr anyway.
PS-ADORABLE WELSH CORGI IN YOUR PIC--used to have a pembroke, myself.

STLRaceChicks read my blog view my photos
Aug 31, 2007 | 1:43 PM

We started fundraising for marching band before school started, but forntunately, we are able to do it without actually "selling" (with the exception of Entertainment books). We buy scrip and offer it to other family members as well. The scrip we buy is for places like Shop 'n Save, Chevy's, etc. and is money we would spend in those places anyway. Each business gives a percentage to the child's account.

So far we have raised about a third of our son's needed funds for band this way. The rest will come from working at the Family Arena and the concession stands at band events at our school. Like most of the other parents, our goal is to make it through the next four years without having to write out a single check to the Band Boosters. So far, we're doing quite well.

I think more schools, churches, scouts, etc should sell scrip. It makes a lot of sense!

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PaulSchankman

I've been hanging out at Fox 2 since I was a kid, and my mom used to drag me to be in the audience at The Charlotte Peters show. Now they pay me to show up. Amazing. Even more amazing, I've been here now for 23 years. I'll keep you posted on what I'm working on, offer the occassional odd thought, and since I enjoy live theater and dining out (does it show?) when I see something or eat somewhere wonderful I'll tell you about it. My two dogs might offer an occassional comment as well. (that's Luca on the left, and Fanny, the little sassy one.) Let the blogging begin! Luca says "arf."

Member Since: 9/13/2006