The Schankman Cometh

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!