How much do you donate to your child's school?

Re: How much do you donate to your child's school?

• DandelionMom

  August 2011

  They ask for a $100 donation at the start of school (this is in addition to a huge list of supplies they request).  And then there's usually a couple of fundraisers later on (a sponsored run and a school carnival/silent auction).  And then there's the monthly movie nights, the weekly popcorn and bagel sales. 

  Honestly, it is kind of nonstop.  I'm just glad they stopped the awful chocolate and wrapping paper sales, those were a pita. 

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• ali-1411 member

  August 2011

  I don't. 

  Several times through the year, the school hits us up with lame fundraisers.  They expect us to ask our friends and family to spend money on expensive crap.  Nobody wants this crap - candles, wrapping paper, nasty candy - so they go straight in the trash.

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• JOEBunny member

  August 2011

  ali-1411:

  I don't. 

  Several times through the year, the school hits us up with lame fundraisers.  They expect us to ask our friends and family to spend money on expensive crap.  Nobody wants this crap - candles, wrapping paper, nasty candy - so they go straight in the trash.

  This is kind of what I am trying to avoid.  I want to contribute, but just want to do an out right donation, not selling over priced stuff no one needs.  I do see where the donations from parents make a huge contribution to the school DD goes to.  Everything from computers to the community garden to the library is funded by parents. 
  

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• hollyg1920 member

  August 2011

  we attend (and spend money at) the school carnival, spaghetti dinner, etc but we usually do not do the cookie dough/magazine/wrapping paper/candle fundraisers.

  we donate extra school supplies and i try and volunteer when i can because i think giving my time is more valuable than buying a candle

  IF the fundraiser is for something important (last year it was to raise money for a tarp to cover the playground equipment..which we need for the texas heat) i gave $20 for the cause instead of buying the pizza kit

  PS- i loathe fundraisers (school and sport) and please stop using limo rides to the pizza/play place as an incentive for the kids
  

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• Tonya_G member

  August 2011

  I'll be honest, I have no idea what the parents at my school donate. And as I'm going to be in the interesting position of being both parent and teacher at my school this year... I guess I'll have to wait and see? I don't know that I'll donate anything though, truly- I spend enough of my own $$ on my classroom, without needing to add to the pot to help my coworkers, KWIM?

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• 4Speedy member

  August 2011

  DD is starting kindy at a private school.  They have two large fundraisers a year but "don't like to nickel and dime the kids."  (That's a quote from the director of business and finance).  So they just go straight for the big bucks.  We are obligated to "donate" $2k a year to the scholarship fund and the capital expansion fund.  We are also required to donate 15 hours of volunteer time a month, on campus.  If we don't meet our volunteer hours, we are charged $20/hour for whatever time we missed.

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• vanessa11411 member

  August 2011

   I usually donate to DDs class. In kinder and first grade the teachers always has wish lists and needs lists and I'd buy off of that. I'd also drop off juices and snacks. I guess it ran me about $300 a school year for kinder and 1st grade.

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• blueshirt2003

  August 2011

  I usually do all the PTO events (skating rink, buy t-shirts, etc) and give money that way.

  I also will do the Scholastics for the class room where you buy and the class room will get a book in turn. 

  We've not been asked to donate (public school) but if we were, I would hope that I had the extra money to do so. 
  

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• tiredmamma member

  August 2011

  We don't "donate" money to our daughter's school. If there is a fundraiser that we have interest in then we participate and we go to almost all the events that are held at the school as they are reasonably priced family nights out! I do donate a lot of time though by being involved with PTO so I go to the meetings and help set up for the events. I found that this is a great way to get facetime in at the school so that the teachers see that I'm involved and I get to meet the parents of the other kids!

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• Boizmom member

  August 2011

  Our schools don't ask for donations.  Last year we only had two fundraisers and we gladly participated.  Every school district is feeling the pinch.  I've always been sympathetic when it comes to teachers asking for supplies.  I know several teachers and the most common complaint is that if they need supplies for their classroom, they have to buy them with their own money.  They only get so much money from the district and once it's gone, it's gone.  And teachers don't make a lot of money to begin with.  So when I buy school supplies I buy extra and send it to school with my kids.  There's always a kid who needs something.  Also through out the school year I ask the teachers what they need specific for their room.  Usually it's a couple boxes of tissue to replenish what the students have gone through or hand sanitizer.  So even though the schools don't out right ask for a donation, I donate plenty through out the year.  I also volunteer in the classrooms and take items home and work on them.
  

  

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