Is it right?

[Dexter Morgan]

Today, at work they started a donation collection, to feed hungry children in other countries. I'm all for helping children, make no mistake about it. I like to help people any way I can. I would like to see the money donated locally. Anyway... we have to ask customers ,if they would like to donate $1. I have a real problem with this. People can barely afford to eat here, and we're trying to save other countries?  I didn't mince words with my boss about how I felt, I tend to be a very straight forward type of person. I told her I didn't think it was right, and I didn't approve of it. It pissed her off, and I don't care. I can have my opinion just as well as anybody else. The first lady I asked berated me, and said 'How dare they ask people for money, people can barely feed themselves!!! What a joke!!!  In actuality I agreed with her. I had a few more choice remarks bounced off me today about it. I don't need the abuse.... and I refuse to stand there, and be bashed all day. 

OK people... sound off and let me know what you think of it. 

[me]

If it were for kids here in the States I would have to say it is ok but I do not agree with asking for money for other countries.  That may sound selfish but I think we should help our own before we go off helping others.

[Locutus]

I would be able to stomach it better if it were going to needy families locally or in this country.  

[Dexter Morgan]

If it were for kids here in the States I would have to say it is ok but I do not agree with asking for money for other countries.  That may sound selfish but I think we should help our own before we go off helping others.

I totally agree. 

[Dexter Morgan]

I would be able to stomach it better if it were going to needy families locally or in this country. 

Exactly... the town I work in has an extremely high jobless rate. The local food pantries have closed because, nobody has the money to donate food to keep them open. I think there are a lot of children going hungry right in our town. Don't get me wrong... all children deserve to be fed and clothed. When it's right there staring me in the face, how could I actually feel right donating to other countries? 

[bevis]

i don't care what it's for, people needn't be subjected to some kind of begging when they're just trying to get something to eat.  if kfc wants to help kids (or anyone else) they are welcome to donate any amount of money they choose.  but to force their employees to impose this desire on unsuspecting customers is wrong.  stupid as well.  i know i'll pass on kfc.

incidentally, your manager would be right at home in gov't.  you know she couldn't care less, but she is ONBOARD with whatever her bosses tell her.  dipsh-t.

[Dexter Morgan]

i don't care what it's for, people needn't be subjected to some kind of begging when they're just trying to get something to eat.  if kfc wants to help kids (or anyone else) they are welcome to donate any amount of money they choose.  but to force their employees to impose this desire on unsuspecting customers is wrong.  stupid as well.  i know i'll pass on kfc.

incidentally, your manager would be right at home in gov't.  you know she couldn't care less, but she is ONBOARD with whatever her bosses tell her.  dipsh-t.

Yeah... I've never been a conformist. If I don't agree with something I'm pretty vocal on it. I don't like to argue with people but... I wont let people walk all over my beliefs. Our store owner has raised the prices 4 times this year.  He owns 20 stores. I realize the price of food has gone up everywhere but.... 4 increases in a year's time is unjustifiable IMO. I deal upfront and face to face with the customers so, I get the brunt of it everytime the prices go up. I don't feel right by asking them to donate, when our prices are sooooo high. 

[Dexter Morgan]

OK guys.... my question looks like I was drunk when I typed it in LMAO!!!  I couldn't modify that sentence. 

Another thing I forgot to mention... there is a contest amongst the stores participating. The store's Donation Ambassador wins.... gasp..... a ticket to a Mariah Carey concert LMAO!!!! I guess when they told our store Ambassador that's what the prize was, he said "Are you f****n kidding me?" Then I guess he said he didn't care whether we won or not. 

[Sandy Eggo]

Sorry, I'll be the odd woman out. Kids are kids and don't deserve the bad circumstances where ever they are. They are part of the human race and are "our" children. Although, I do understand what you're saying. Maybe you can suggest having a collection jar for local families or if you're feeling real spunky suggest everyone get together for a fundraiser like a carwash and/or bake sale and donate the money to a foodbank or shelter. Or, how about a can food collection box? One can = one free regular drink?

[Dexter Morgan]

Sorry, I'll be the odd woman out. Kids are kids and don't deserve the bad circumstances where ever they are. They are part of the human race and are "our" children. Although, I do understand what you're saying. Maybe you can suggest having a collection jar for local families or if you're feeling real spunky suggest everyone get together for a fundraiser like a carwash and/or bake sale and donate the money to a foodbank or shelter. Or, how about a can food collection box? One can = one free regular drink?

They don't even let people put up fliers for benefits, or anything. That's just how they are. As for the employees doing anything productive for the cause..... most of the people I work with are sooooo lazy they stink. It's sad but true. The way I see it is this..... if people want to donate then that's fine, most people who donate to some of these causes do it outright.  It seems like we're forcing the issue. It's the same way with suggestive selling. We're putting a notion in people's head. How many times have you been to a restaurant, and ordered a meal, and the register person asked you if you want something to drink with it, or if you want dessert? Maybe starting out you had no intention of getting a drink or dessert, but the seed is planted, and then you buy something, you didn't want in the first place. That's what all of these things are about. Talking you in to spending more money. 

[Sandy Eggo]

Yeah, actually after I thought about it and put emotion to the side, I agree. I don't think they should force the employees to push the fundraiser, at all. Generally, when I go into a business and I see the advertisement for whichever fundraiser, if I have a few extra dollars on me, then I'll donate them. Although, I don't normally carry cash - I use my debit card for everything, so that's what I mean by actually having the cash with me. Anyway, it irks me when I've made my decision that I'm not going to donate this time and the cashier asks me if I'd like to donate. I feel like such a heel when I say, "no, thank you". Honestly, a consumer has an opportunity to donate to just about any cause in most any business. I like to voluntarily give and not feel held hostage.

Having said that, your boss probably doesn't have any choice in the matter. I don't know if KFC does this, but many of the fast food places has "shoppers" who stop in and make purchases and critique the service. The management and the crew member gets dinged if all the "rules" aren't followed, so it's hard to even buck the system, regardless of personal feelings and I don't think that's fair either.

Still...if the money is going to help children, anywhere, it's not all bad. There are lots of ways you can help the local community, Dexter. Maybe organizing something like that will take some of the sting out of it. If you decide that you'd like to try something, PM me. I have lots of ideas of things that either I've done, helped organize or my company has done. Organizing a fundraiser or charitable donation seems like a daunting task, but once you get it rolling, somehow it just kinda takes care of itself.

[Dexter Morgan]

If you say 'No thank you' we're fine with it. There are a lot of people who shoot snarky comments when we ask them. I always say 'no thank you' I don't completely flip out because somebody asked. Most of the time people cut you off at the word donate, and you don't have to give the whole suggestion.

I had a guy come in today that was horribly mean. I didn't even ask him if he wanted to donate. So, he grabs the sign for the donations, and says,What's this? I said we were collecting to feed hungry children. He says" Who does the money go to?" I said "To feed hungry children" He says "Where do I give money?" I told him to me.  So, he starts throwing ones on the counter, and says "Where else should it go?" and started to walk away. I yelled after him "Don't you want to sign the cards?" He says put Santa Claus on them, and that is exactly what I wrote on them LMAO!! It was $4. Sometimes, I don't know what makes people tick.  I think he may have been one of the rudest customers I ever had.