Several years ago, my parents requested that we not buy Christmas gifts for them, and instead donate to a charity of our choice. They did request that it be a charity that serves our local areas.
One year we chose our local VFW, specifically the program that provides Christmas gifts to children of impoverished servicemembers. One year it was a bunch of $5 and $10 gift cards to grocery stores and fast-food places (their requested method) to a homeless-support group.
This year I found Good Shepherd Housing which seems to do really good, very local work, giving chances to people who are willing to work, and localized to just four ZIP codes. I mailed my check to arrive for Christmas.
On the 29th of December, we got a thank-you letter acknowledging our gift. I filed it with tax information, and that was that.
Today, I received another envelope, in a first-class, USPS tracking, package that cost $2.32 to mail. Inside was another thank-you letter, a bookmark, and a postcard with a lapel pin attached.
Even at large-quantity pricing, the charity spent significantly more than I would have liked to send me something I’ll not use, that duplicates what they sent me before. They sent it with tracking?????
On the front of the envelope, too, is a banner that says “Welcome”. Uh, what? Welcome to what? My check said “donation”. I don’t want to join anything; I don’t want to buy anything; I don’t want to see my donation dollars spend on feel-good marketing.
I do hope this is the last I hear from them. After my experiences with the USO and the American Red Cross (not part of the Christmas gift issue; just donations), I do not want letter after letter after letter and gift after “gift”. A letter, or maybe two, bulk mailed, throughout the year is one thing, but I don’t want to feel my money is being wasted.
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