I can't wait for Hallowe'en. Elias is going to be a lion and Ezra is going to be a gorilla and I'm really looking forward to going around to our neighbours for an hour and showing off their extreme cuteness. Here's the thing. I don't eat sugar and, at 16 months, the boys are barely going to be chowing down on a Mars bar. I don't really want to collect candy when I don't have anything to do with it. Would it be completely tacky to collect money to donate to the Humane Society? I'm a big animal welfare person and it goes with our animal theme but....I don't know....it feels kind of tacky. Should I just collect the candy and give it away at the office or something? Any thoughts? Thanks.
Are you suggesting asking people for money when they start to give candy to the kids?? I think that would be tacky. I think the point of Halloween is, take what is offered. Then just bring it to work if you don't eat it ... But yeah, I think I would be bothered by someone asking me for money when I opened my door to tricker treaters ... I'd be like "Huh?"
We are in the same boat, but my plan was just to not take a "treat bag" along and explain that we are merely going around to show off our costumes. This is what we did last year. I like the thought behind the humane society idea... what if you put out a jar at your own house/porch that said "Donations for the Humane Society" and people who are bringing their kiddos around can choose whether to donate or not. Just a thought. Have fun!!!
Yeah, that would be a little strange to me, too. You take what you get on Halloween! I would have loved to say no thank you to all the stupid smarties people used to give - no thanks, but I'll take cash instead so I can buy myself a real candy bar! It's a very nice gesture to think of making a donation instead of taking useless candy, but I don't think it's appropriate. Have fun showing off the kiddos!!
QUOTE(caba @ Oct 8 2008, 10:08 AM) [snapback]1017356[/snapback] Are you suggesting asking people for money when they start to give candy to the kids?? I think that would be tacky. I think the point of Halloween is, take what is offered. Then just bring it to work if you don't eat it ... But yeah, I think I would be bothered by someone asking me for money when I opened my door to tricker treaters ... I'd be like "Huh?" Same here, if someone asked me for money I think I'd be shocked
I wouldn't ask for money. But how about, instead of bringing them around, keep them on your front step and have them help pass out candy. That way they can show off their cuteness, and won't collect candy.
Collecting for UNICEF is pretty normal, though. Well in my experience anyway, both in PA growing up decades ago and today in NY. They give the boxes out at the schools. http://fieldnotes.unicefusa.org/2008/10/ma...en_count_1.html
QUOTE(sharongl @ Oct 8 2008, 03:33 PM) [snapback]1017404[/snapback] I wouldn't ask for money. But how about, instead of bringing them around, keep them on your front step and have them help pass out candy. That way they can show off their cuteness, and won't collect candy. Absolutely, let them help pass out the candy to the neighbor kids. They get seen and they don't bring home junk you don't want.
I like the pp's idea of just not taking a candy bucket.....I wouldn't ask for money, though. I'd be nervous putting a donation box on my porch, though; I'd be worried it would get stolen. We had someone steal our jack-o-lantern one year!
I would probably just take the candy -- it's fun to hold out treat bags and get stuff -- and then just give it away at the office or something. When Nadia was little, she spent hours just moving the candy around from one bucket to another, and never actually ate the stuff....but she had fun with it!
[SIZE=10pt]I agree with pp's ~ I wouldn't ask for money. My oldest DD's orthodontist has a program where he buys your candy from you. $2.00 a pound for you and another $2.00 for the local Boys and Girls Club. We're going to do that with A&P's candy. (minus a few pieces that we'll probably eat ) You might check your local paper for dentists/orthodontists that offer this program. April [/SIZE]
Yes, I would think it was strange if a parent of a trick or treater ask for a donation while trick or treating and I would politely decline. If you feel weird about taking the candy then just don't bring a bag. My boys were 10 months their first Halloween and they got dressed up along with my then 9 yr old SD and the boys each had a small ghost bucket and their stuff just went into a big bowl when we got home anyway. Also, I didn't take them up to knock on doors (obviously they were still in a stroller) ppl just gave them candy in their little ghosts. Last year they weren't allowed candy either but I still took them out, our neighborhood is packed with kids of all ages and really, am I supposed to keep them in the house while other little children knock and say trick or treat. It's all in good fun and to us that's the whole point of Halloween...it's all good.
OK. I think the verdict is in. Maybe I'll put a sign on the wagon saying "don't feed the animals" I was thinking along the lines of Unicef but, really, I just wanted an excuse to go around visiting to my neighbours while they are still awake (the boys go to sleep at 6:45 though I'm hoping to stretch it to 7:15 by then in preparation for daylight savings.)
QUOTE Maybe I'll put a sign on the wagon saying "don't feed the animals" i think this is a GREAT idea!! super cute
I bet your local elementary school will give you a couple of extra unicef boxes (they always give them to the students). The boys will enjoy being handed brightly coloured candy and will likely have no idea that it's edible! You'll be a hit at work if you have lots of tootsie rolls to hand out the next day!
My friend doesn't let her son have candy (he's never even tasted it) so when they go trick or treating he gives candy to the other kids that he passes by on the walk to the next house. He feels great when they are so happy! He's 4 and still loves doing this!
I wouldn't ask for money either, they sometimes still have the unicef boxes in this area too, but it can get expensive when we get around 100 kids trick or treating, I would rather give to a charity I choose privately. I would let them collect the candy though, that is part of the fun, having it put in the bag/bucket. Then take it to work, give it to other kids, or dump it in the garbage when they're not looking, they won't remember the next day anyhow. Have fun.
