Closing thread. Same topic posted on other forum. See here for continuation:

www.ptotoday.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=...;t=001019;p=1#000003

Tim

I think most people were upset or bothered by the fact that we were soliciting money from local businesses to buy our kids (or the kids who successfully participated) a t-shirt. I think if the t-shirts were donated by someone wihtout us asking for the money, people would not have been so negative about the idea. I think people were thinking if we were going to be asking for money, that money should go to help the needy families. I mean, you're probably talking about a $1,000 for t-shirts. That could buy about 4,000 cans if you caught them on sale.

Oh we've had this discussion at school frequently recently.
Giving incentives for charity community and just being good, reading.

You'll always have the naysayers. We have one staff member that complains "we give too many incentives, even for going to the bathroom"

My reply SO WHAT, if the kids need some kind of motivational tool (which is why its callled that to MOTIVATE) then so be it. It beats the hell outta getting nothing. Kids shouldnt be expected to totally give into the 'Giving without Receiving, mantra. The're kids, they should be taught to be compassionate and charitable but they're only kids.

Let them act and feel like adult ...Oh my here's the puchnline.. When they're ADULTs.. TADA...

Shawn steps offf his soapbox... If ya can get the sponsor and support Go for it.

Every year in the summer my boys have to do some sort of a community project. Last year we did a food drive. It does teach them about volunteering but at their ages you also have to make it fun. They don't have a complete sense of developed compassion yet (although they are very thoughtful etc) but sometimes this stuff is a lot of work. My guys got to ride on the runner of the truck during the pick up ... something they NEVER get to do...and having that little bit was very, very exciting and will make them want to do it again. Eventually, they will want to do this for ALL the right reasons, but if right now the only way I get them to run from house to house is by getting them on the runner of the truck, that's what we'll do. I say--if the t-shirts get them over the hump...go for it. You're not giving them to adults, you giving them to children who may need a bit of added incentive to understand this whole charity thing. Then see if they want to wear the shirts when you deliver the food to the food bank. A big photo standing around a couple hundred cans of food may make everyone realize the shirts were a good idea (in fact I may steal it [img]smile.gif[/img] )....

I would like to get some feedback from some of you devoted PTO moms/dads on an issue we had at our school.
Every year, our school does a can food drive before Thanksgiving and we donate food baskets (usually to needy children and their families within the school district) Sometimes we have a decent turnout, sometimes we don't. The chairperson this year proposed an idea that a school did last year. They sent home a letter stating if their child brought 20 non-parishable food items, they would get a free t-shirt (the t-shirt would have CHAIN gang (children helping all in need)on it. Then, they sent out a letter to local businesses asking for monetary donations to fund the t-shirts that would be given out to those that brought the 20 items.
This idea was proposed yesterday at our meeting and was met with much resistance. Some said it wasn't fair for the kids who were not able to bring the food, others had a problem with us asking for money to pay for shirts to give out and some were just against having an incentive for kids volunteering, saying that volunteer work should be free and we should teach our kids to do things without expecting something in return. While I think we all agree with those objections to some extent, the truth is they got almost 3000 cans of food last year when they are used to getting barely 1000. The principal suggested that she would bring a pig to school and kiss it if we met our goal giving the kids a little incentive, but a FREE incentive. Guess this might be a question of which is the worst of 2 evils?
I just wanted you guys to share your thoughts.
Thanks