During the last few years charities have relied more and more on the big stores to do their collecting for them.
As far as I’m concerned, this makes one fairly uncomfortable when saying either yes or no to the particular charity, when going through the checkout.
I use the standard “I gave at the office” if I do not want to donate to that charity. Times change though and it’s fairly obvious to anyone that I haven’t been working in an office for a few years. So after searching for a few bargains and saving a few dollars, I lose a portion of my savings by not being able to say no at the checkout.
So off I go to the liquor store and carefully avoid eye-contact with the busker who seems to know that if I can afford the exorbitant prices they charge, I can afford to give him a little bit of my pension.
I reach the till with my purchase only to be asked if I would like to donate a dollar for Dry Grad. This is just February. When do students graduate these days?
It’s about time these “charity” people started beating the drums a little and put some effort into their cause, rather than sitting back and letting the big stores do the work for them.
Bob Beckwith
Victoria
