I am in charge of our PTA community outreach program for this year. One of our annual fundraisers is a change drive to benefit our city's program that provides Christmas presents to children of families in need. I think this is a wonderful thing, BUT....

They are giving each child $100 worth of toys. I know for some people that's not alot, but for many families in our area that is more than they will be able to spend on their own kids. It's actually decreased from $150 from last year! Here is part of their guidelines:

1) Total amount each child will receive is $100 worth of gifts maximum. If a bike is purchased that costs $95.00 the child will only receive a bike. If the child requests an IPOD that costs $50, the child might also receive a gift card of $50 totally $100.00.

Really??!! Is it just me or does this seem too much? I think all kids should get to enjoy Christmas, but I'm having a hard time working up much enthusiasm for this and I'm the one who is chairing it.

Help me understand or put a spin on it I can use to convince other parents.

Thanks,
Renee

I am guessing that this decision to fund $100 per kid was made by those in charge of the city program and your PTA fundraiser will contribute to that program...it is not your program.

I find this interesting because do they know how many kids will apply for the program ( or has that already been done). There is the potential for so many more people to need the program this Christmas that they may only be able to service a percentage of the kids who ask for help.

How can they justify giving some kids the $100 that they already decided on and cutting out others entirely.? You are already aware that a number of your people may not be able to spend $100 on their own child

I don't think your issue is getting PTA parents behind the program but to get the city people to rethink how short sighted their goal is

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Wow, that's a lot of money for each child. Seems pretty high to me.

Many years ago when I was a struggling single Mother, my oldest son (then age 8) was taken on a Christmas shopping trip by a local group. I'm not sure what was budgeted for each child, but he was encouraged to pick out clothes for himself and gifts for others, in additon to toys. If I remember correctly the toys were about one-third of his purchases. So while $100 worth of toys may seem excessive, if a portion of that hundred were spent on a winter coat or other essentials, it would make more sense.

The OP said $100 for toys, so I am assuming that is what she met, for toys. Yes, to me that seems like a lot of money. Especially when so many people need help. I don't know how you are going to change other people's mind though....even in these tough times, most people are not a frugal as we are here!

I agree. It would be hard for me to back a program like this. It's a bit much, especially in this economy. I doubt *essentials* are being bought like warm coats and clothes since you said *toys*.

I would go to whomever runs the program itself and voice my disapproval with the way it's being done. Then it's up to you to decide if you want to back/raise money for the program given your feelings towards it.

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I appreciate all of your feedback. It is for TOYS only, and that's a big part of the problem for me. We have other city services that help provide food, clothing, etc, this is strictly for toys. I am only involved through trying to raise money for our school to donate to this drive. I don't think it's being handled well, but it is not a citizen's committee, but rather it is run by a group of city employees, so I don't get any input. I think our money could be better served in so many other ways, but we are in a very small town and the other schools in the town all donate to this, so we "have to", too.

We are doing a food drive for the food pantry, starting up a program to send food home on the weekends for kids who might not have access to adequate food when the "free lunch" isn't available, and now this change drive all at the same time. I know it's a lot to ask parent's for, and the weekend food program is coming solely out of my budget for now. I guess I'm just having a hard time asking people for so much when I know everyone is cutting back and when I don't feel like the money they donate is being well spent.

I appreciate y'all letting me vent.

Renee

You really ought to bring this up in your PTA executive board meeting. Seems to me the money would be better spent on something for the needy kids in your own school. However, it is usually frowned upon for PTA to do something that benefits only a select few and not the whole student body. Are the food pantry donations for city wide use or your school only? The only time that I've been involved in PTA fundraisers for one person is when the school principal was undergoing chemo for breast cancer. We held dime drops and used the money for prepared food when the principal's family came for a weekend visit. PTA was completely upfront about what the money was used for so no one could come back later and complain.
Really, bring this up in an executive board meeting because there might be others that agree with you. This should be a matter that is voted on by the whole board, not decided upon by a select few.

In my mind a simple solution would to provide $50 worth of toys to twice as many children. Fifty dollars goes a long way at Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc.

I think that's ridiculous. I think $20 per child (so you can help a LOT more kids) would be much more realistic.

Why not suggest some other project for the next fundraiser or next holiday...I mean, I might not personally pick this one either but isn't there a process to vote on charities or choose a fundraising recipient group...or did your school pto really just say, oh well we're a small town, we have to donate to this, everybody else does...that doesn't make much sense if that's what they did, lol

At our local elementary school, the guidance counselors have put together a program where people in the school can "adopt" a child, or family from the school. They don't know who the person/family is. They are given a "wish list" from the child/family, and what they buy for them is up to them.

I did this last year, and had such a good time shopping for the girl we were given. I may try to adopt a family this year.

Maybe this is something you can suggest at your school??? Usually the guidance counselors have a very good handle on who needs a little help. You could still ask people to send in "change", but, keep it within your own school. Maybe the PTA could be given the list of things that need to be purchased and buy it with the money raised???

Good Luck.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Our PTA group adopts families every year through the food bank (who hosts the exchange). Each family that wants help for Christmas is asked to fill out a very detailed list of what toys their child enjoys along with sizes for clothes. Last year, another PTA member and I were in charge of shopping for a family. We were given a budget of $1000...so to make things interesting and challenging for us, we asked to adopt two families. We adopted two of the larger families on the list. Both families had five children. It was a great thing to spend $500 on five children and two parents from each family. We bought an assortment of clothes (one outfit for each in the family), toys, books, family board games and a "family movie night package". I thought we provided a great assortment with everything.

I am sorry that the toys are the only thing budgeted for with $100. because you sure can get alot for that. I would bring it up to the board. Maybe change is in order.

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It is to late to do anything about it this year but I would make sure that I would voice my concerns and have another suggestion fully thought out when you meet back for the next meeting following this event.

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That is a lot of money for toys when some people can't heat their homes buy their children clothes or have gas and groceries to last through the month.

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I think $100 per child is too much; it could be more than a family who does not receive assistance spends on their children. $50 seems like a more appropriate amount. I realize that kids, especially teenagers, want to have the things that their peers do, but there's no sense setting false expectations of line and setting them up for failure. Also, the thing with many of these programs is that there is no real way to prevent double-dipping.

cj/

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