Kamaaina Kids' bake sale?
November 4th, 2009 by Paula BenderHow many parents are going to roll over and write another check for yet another fundraiser? Are you kidding me?
Kamaaina Kids has sent home with my child tickets to sell cinnamon bread, banana nut cake and pound cake. At $5.50 a pop for 10 loaves of each, Kamaaina Kids expects each child to generate $165 in sales. FOR WHAT?
Excuse me. Times are tough. The ripple effect of Furlough Fridays means that those who are engaging Kamaaina Kids for Friday services are already extending a very tight budget. Furlough Fridays means that many of us are learning to live with less. It's an opportunity to also think about the money one spends on food. When I see bananas on the counter, I think about making banana bread, not buying it. Nothing tastes as good as homemade.
Parents are still feeling the pinch less than two weeks after Koko Head Elementary School conducted its evening fundraiser to generate $17,000 to pay for physical education, music and culture instructors. For Kamaaina Kids to turn around two weeks later and send home 30 $5.50 tickets for some 100 kids in the A+ program is a huge mistake. Ask the bank. My checking account is straining.
Bless her heart, but the young lady in charge of the Koko Head program told me the sale is to raise money for the end of the year party -- the one that lasts a couple of hours on the last day of school with a giant inflatable for the kids to go crazy with. But last year sales of chips and juice to the kids in the after-school program generated the money necessary to pay for the inflatable and to buy some Costco pizzas. I think they needed $300 - $400 for the whole deal.
This stinks. The note that came home with the tickets offers NO explanation as to why they are asking my child to sell tickets. For all I know, Kamaaina Kids is feeling the pinch just like the rest of us. If they don't have enough children in the Furlough Friday program, they'll lose money. A bake sale isn't going to cut it. Rethink your business plan, Kamaaina Kids. I appreciate your services, but anything beyond the $55 I'm already paying per month is above what I'm going to spend.
As for the party on the last day of school? I'll spring for two Costco pizzas and I'll loan my garden hose so the kids can get a good soaking. My wallet has been soaked enough.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
You're right, Paula. There's something terribly wrong about a private vender with a contract at a public school who abuses that position of trust by pressuring the children in their care to become sales hacks to enhance their own program. Funds for the year-end party -- if there is one -- should come from the program's overall budget. Imagine how intimidating it is: "Come on kids, sell all these baked goods or you won't have your party!" Not cool to force that burden and guilt onto the children or their parents.
It's probably prohibited, too. Complain to the school and district office.
November 5th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I never would have thought of that
November 10th, 2009 at 8:12 am
I'm pretty miffed about this and I really don't want to let it go. Looking for more comments, if you please!
November 10th, 2009 at 8:22 am
I agree with you. There is no reason that a private, for-profit provider should be running fundraisers through our children.
Of course, for what it's worth, I also oppose the baseball leagues and football teams standing on our streets with nets to collect money for their tournaments to the mainland or Big Island. What happened to a kid going to their neighbors yard to mow the lawn or weed to make extra money... or just saying to our children, "That is something that costs way too much." Why do we create situations where panhandling by children and their parents is the only way to provide a so called "positive esteem building experience" for the team because they've already won a championship.
PS: I feel the same way about academic teams who raise money that way too... is not just athletics.
Whew! Is is only Tuesday?!?!!