Bacon's Rebellion

Check-Out Charities

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by

James A. Bacon
in

by Kerry Dougherty

“Wow,” she said. “Thirty dollars exactly. I can’t ask you to round up.”

One day last week, on what felt like my 57th visit to my local supermarket, the cashier grinned as she rang up my order.

Well she could ask. But my answer would be the same as always: No.

Frankly, I’m tired of being asked if I want round up to the nearest dollar every time I make a purchase.

It happens at grocery stores, department stores and fast food joints. Everywhere you turn, someone’s got their hand out.

I like to think I’m charitable. But I like to pick my own charities.

Right before Christmas when my basket was full of rich foods, a cheerful cashier asked me if I wanted to round up the food bank. I hesitated. The food bank does remarkable work feeding the poorest of the poor in Hampton Roads. It seemed churlish not to donate.

I sighed. I glanced around and saw the man behind me, staring. I was embarrassed. I didn’t even look to my total to see what rounding up would mean.

“No,” I replied.

Not, “I’m so sorry” or “I gave at the office” just NO.

I always say no to check-out charities. No matter how worthy the beneficiary. No matter how many people are within earshot.

I don’t like the tactic. I want it to stop. Continue reading.

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Comments

10 responses to “Check-Out Charities”

  1. UVAPast Avatar
    UVAPast

    What if you asked the cashier if the store would give $1 to your favorite charity?

  2. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    Well, here is something that Kerry and I agree on! In addition to preferring t pick my own charities, I don't donate to these being pushed by retail stores because I don't know enough about them. For all I know, the charity I am being asked to donate to is taking 75 percent off the top for administrative costs. It seems that there are few instances lately in which the clerk is asking, at least at the supermarket. The question is built into the credit card screen. It is much easier to skip then.

  3. Lefty665 Avatar
    Lefty665

    We give directly to organizations and people. That means we have the ability to check out the practices of the organization or person we are donating to. It also means that we do not lose the overhead that organizations like United Way take off the top of all donations.

    The not for profit organizations I worked with figured that about 15% was the max administrative overhead that was acceptable. However if a donation goes through another organization and they also have overhead then close to 1/3 of the donation can go to overhead even if they are all well run. That's a pretty big bite.

  4. DJRippert Avatar
    DJRippert

    On a related note, I am sick of carryout food purveyors looking for tips. The Sweetgreen next to my office is a classic case. There are no waiters or waitresses, even for those few people who eat in the restaurant. Who am I being asked to tip? The salad is made and charged for by a number of people. Does one get the the tip? Is it split among the employees? How about the employees who work in the back washing lettuce and shredding carrots? Do they participate in the requested largesse?

    I wonder when the local 7-11 will start asking for tips or the local ABC Store.

  5. DJRippert Avatar
    DJRippert

    I also see a troublesome trend with politicians seeking donations ostensibly for charities.

    Old Hiawatha Warren is taking some flak for asking for donations to help the California wildfire victims with a link to ActBlue instead of the actual charities. Not only does the prospective giver get to see the modern day Pocahontas' campaign donation site, they apparently get nicked for 3.9% from ActBlue and they have their personal data taken for use in the interminable e-mails, text messages, etc that come around election time.

    You would think somebody who claims to be a champion for consumer rights would know better.

    Why not just link to the actual charities that directly help the wildfire victims?

    https://gazette.com/news/wex/elizabeth-warren-in-trouble-after-using-actblue-to-fundraise-for-california-fires/article_1cc11a50-78e4-5044-a466-2d58dfc2d070.html

  6. James McCarthy Avatar
    James McCarthy

    Kerry ought to consider having a shopper to restock her larders and closets. Add to the shopper's instructions that no round up giving is permitted allowing the shopper to reply No or I cannot. No stress on the beleaguered columnist's psyche.

  7. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    I 'rounded up' a couple of bucks when purchasing a new pistol recently because the money is going to the NRA…

  8. Eric the half a troll Avatar
    Eric the half a troll

    “I like to think I’m charitable. But I like to pick my own charities.”

    You clearly have that ability still. These are voluntary donation requests conducted by a private corporation with no government involvement. You can simply stop shopping there but your beef is with the free market. Not surprised Conservatives don’t want to help the poor… would be too Christian an action….

  9. Gary Masters Avatar
    Gary Masters

    "Hell no" is memorable at my local grocery. Once and done; never to be suckered again.

  10. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    I feel like I give a fair amount to charity and at first, I was okay with the round-up thing, but then it was over and over, everytime and I'm done with it also.

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