Charities Collecting at the Checkstand.

[brewens]

I wouldn't say it's really bugging me but I get hit up a lot at the checkstand. The checker will ask if I'd like to make a donation to usually some worthwhile charity. I always do, but if they get me there, it's only a buck.

I can't really say no because I depend on people donating blood to earn my living. I drive mobile collection vehicles, recruit and register donors at blood drives. I myself donate and did for years before I was in the business. I've made over 100 platelet donations.

I also always contribute to food drives, especially our local veterans home and never walk by a bell ringer at Christmas time without kicking in. When there is a bell ringer at both entrances, I'll make sure I go back out the door I came in. That guy knows I already gave, the other guy might think I'm a Scrooge!

I don't know about the checkstand thing really. Doesn't that kind of put people on the spot? I'd also kind of hate to be a checker and have to ask that all day.

When I set up registration for a blood drive, I make sure and have signs up and am clearly visible. That's partly to scare people away as well as attract them. If you want nothing to do with being poked by our staff, I'd just as soon you don't even get close to me! That saves me from wasting my time as well as yours. I'm pretty low key about it though. I just smile as people go by and say, "we're having a blood drive today." I can easily detect when someone might be willing and then I pursue it farther.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. I looked up some of these checkstand charities. Most of their CEO's

get paid over a half a million a year plus perks. Fuck em.

[RandiFan1290]

2. Do you know if the store gets to pool the money

and use the donations as a deduction? I've always wondered about that and it wouldn't surprise me.

[Lars39]

3. You're donating the actual money at the checkout

and the company gets the tax write off.

[elehhhhna]

5. and reports it as income to the stockholders.

It's a win win win for them. If I give a buck to jdf @ walgreens on every visit (I do) it's a 50$/year deduction minimum that I don't take.

[Lars39]

8. Forgot that angle!

yep,a win, win for them.

[daleo]

12. I wondered about that angle

So, a rich corporation collects a lot of micro-charity from average people (or low income people in cases like Wal-Mart), then aggregates those into amounts large enough to be worth a healthy tax write off. I wouldn't be surprised if the charities involved have high administrative overhead (well paid management), and plenty of opportunity to backscratch with the management of the stores in question.

[Nye Bevan]

4. I always say "no". I like to do proper research of the charities that I donate to,

checking their rating from Charitywatch, for example, to check that a high proportion of donations actually goes to the good cause. Then I make a donation by check so that I have proper records and get the tax deduction. I am not going to randomly donate money to some charity that I have never heard of and when I have no idea how efficient they are.

[bettyellen]

10. Same here, I am glad I learned to say No thanks without guilt a long time ago.

And to do some research to target my donations. And I give food to the local shelter, because 100% gets to who needs it.
And that's the best feeling.

[ananda]

6. I never donate at checkouts. However...

I just don't know what I'm giving to or why.
I like to research and think about what I donate to.

However, it's also true that cashiers are pressured
to do this. Some stores even have a reward and
penalty system for stuff like this.

But even so, I don't donate at checkouts. It feels
like money down the drain for the profit of some
unknown entity that's probably getting or making
too much money already.

I want my donations to count for something good
and meaningful.

[CrispyQ]

7. I'm sorry they are forced to ask. I never contribute.

If it's not too hectic, I tell the checker, "I know this policy comes from corporate, but I think it's really bad form for a multimillion dollar corporation to hit up it's customers for charitable contributions, I don't care if it is for a good cause." On some occasions, people behind me have agreed.

[femmocrat]

9. I also find it annoying.

I usually say, "Not today" and leave it at that. Why badger the poor checkout person? (Not that anyone said they do that!)

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. We run a guantlet of people selling stuff in front of the stores

plus the checkstand begging.

I donate to a few trusted charities, none of which beg a thon at grocery stores.

[brewens]

13. One thing I see is some people taking the efficiency part too far. As far as thinking

100% of their donation needs to go to the cause. In most cases worthwhile charities will have some paid staff. A CEO of course does not need to be raking in millions.

I took part in a United Way drive last year. The United Way rep fed us some B.S. about how all opperating expenses are paid by donations from corporations and that 100% of individual dontions go to people in need. As far as I'm concerned, all the money goes into one pot. Part of my donation pays opperating expenses, no matter how they claim to have it worked out. That's another deal where in my community, we work with the United Way on a few things. In my position, I kind of have to help them out a little. Last year I donated $50 bucks. Donating got all blood center employees entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card and I won it!

Occasionaly I'll hear someone say, "I'd donate if the blood was free but you guys make the hospitals pay for it." I usually just let it go. First of all, the guy probably wouldn't really donate. Second, I've tried to explain it before and got nowhere. Aside from volunteers, of which we have many, most of us are paid full-time staff. It takes a lot of expensive equipment to run a blood center and comply with all the regulations. The volunteers help us keep the cost down but they are only allowed to do a few things. Many of us donate blood too. There would be no way you could get it done and supply hospitals for free. We are a not for profit corporation. The FDA mandates that all blood centers manufacturing units to be transfused to patients be not for profit.