Surprise was the reaction
By savypat
@savypat (20216)
United States
November 21, 2010 2:15pm CST
I just did my weeekly shopping at Walmart and they were collecting food for the needy for Thanksgiving thrugh tomorrow. So I included my contribution wwith my regular order. Wlamart really helped, they gave me a check off list of suggested items or they even had pre chosen bags at different prices. I felt this really made it easy.
However I wanted to choose my own item and filled one of my cloth bags for this use.
When I got to the check stand, the checker helped me check out the gift first so that I could have a receipt for the donation and then someone came and picked up the stuff to put with other donations. But what surprised me was the way everyone reacted. They seemed so surprised that I had done this and couldn't thank me enough.
It wasn't until I got home that I realized how overboard they went with the Thanks.
It got me worried that they were not getting much in the way of donations. What do you think? Have you seen these requests at your Walmart? Have you donated there?
5 people like this
12 responses
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
22 Nov 10
Walmart works with the Salvation Army here in Alamo Texas to collect for the needy. A number of RV parks in the area take turn ringing bells at the doors of the Walmart Stores. My wife and I donate our time for 2 hours one day in December. We find it surprising how much is donated. It appears that the majority of money comes from those who live in the area full time. A great many are not well dressed, but they (Latinos) are a generous people. Last year there was more than $80,000 collected for the needy, in the McAllen area of South Texas
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
22 Nov 10
A study that was recently done showed that the people that gave the most to charity were those that could barely afford to do so or were low to medium income. It seems that people without much money value it more and empathize with those who are less fortunate so they feel the need to help.
1 person likes this
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
22 Nov 10
That's very generous of walmart. I believe it'd be a great help to those with nothing to eat this holiday season. It's also very nice of you. I admire that attitude.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157813)
• United States
21 Nov 10
I am trying to stay out of the stores. I think I have seen some big boxes that they are filling at various Wal Mart stores. Also other stores. Personally, I donate year round to a food pantry in my church. At the first part of November we do non traditional Thanksgiving baskets. Knowing that many charities donate food, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas, we put together baskets of laundry soap, hair care items, toilet paper, tooth paste, etc. things that food stamps do not buy and that really stretch the budget. In February we will donate sheet sets and blankets to families. We donate gently used furniture year round. One year we gave lots of new beds away. With the economy so rough, a lot of people are not giving or are giving very little, so they may have been surprised to see you donate a lot. If you are able to give, you are not really ever poor.
2 people like this
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
22 Nov 10
What you did was awesome and commedable. With the economy the way it is, people are a little reluctant to be donating the way we all should be. I hate going into the stores right now, because I am on public assistance and we are barely feeding our household let alone someone else much less fortunate. I noticed at our wal-mart that no one is giving too much either. We just don't have the extra because of the way things are right now. Last year I donated $150 to the Salvation Army and this year I put my head down when walking by. I feel that bad. You are awesome and I pray that you have many more blessings coming your way. I am sure you helped out someone in terrible need.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
22 Nov 10
I have been so lucky, when things were bad I was always able to give time. Charities are always looking for time from people. One year I went to my bed sheets and was able to give away about half of what I had. We still had a change of bedding for each bed. Clothing lasts so long these days that I am able to give away what we no longer use. Someone else can use what is just hanging in my closets.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
21 Nov 10
What a nice thing to do especially with the way the economy is these days. I'm living in Puerto Rico and I have not seen this at my Walmart. The next time I go I will check it out more closely. However, I think I would have noticed this when checking out yesterday. Thanks for the info though.
2 people like this
@lynnymac (105)
• United States
22 Nov 10
i had the very same experience !! i only got a few things, and i didn't use the list, because i am unemployed. but i still feel i am better off than most and i could afford to get 3 things. i bought a canned ham, some pasta, and a can of pumpkin. but you would have thought i had spent a fortune the way the cashier thanked me. so maybe it isn't how much you give but that you care enough to give at all. maybe no one is giving much in this economy. i think you're right they are not getting much in the way of donations. i told the lady at church who is collecting for the poor that i can't give anything this year ( there are some wealthy people in our church, so i don't feel guilty about this ) but since i am not working i can give my time and will help deliver the baskets. if we each just do whatever we can someone somewhere will be blessed.
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
26 Nov 10
Well we do not have Thanksgiving here but I do donate all year round as the Shops here have Donation Boxes for different kind so I normally put something in them, I also donate £5 every month to a Dog/Cat adoption Shelter
They do a special Donation every year at Christmas which I do add to if I am certain that is what it is for
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
23 Nov 10
In my experience it has been those who have experienced being or doing without that return to give the most. What a nice thing to do. And a show of what this season is supposed to be about!
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
22 Nov 10
Donations are way, way down. People either can't even feed their own family or they are worried that what they give to the needy will be needed for themselves in a couple of months. My local Salvation Army is desperate for donations but giving is way down as jobs get scarcer and more people are jobless. The bins in my local Kroger and Walmart that collect food for the needy are mostly empty no matter what day or time I go there.
My own income has been reduced lately and expenses have increased so I have not given this season yet. I'm hoping to be able to resume soon but it might or might not happen.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
23 Nov 10
We don’t have Walmart here but we do have similar stores that have Christmas trees set up for customers to put wrapped toys and goods underneath. There are tags hanging on the trees and on them are children’s names and family details etc. so as to make selecting a gift easier. It is quite popular although I am sure that a lot more is still needed. We usually buy at least one small toy for a child and I bring some food stuff from home. The reaction you received at Walmart may indicate that there are not too many people as generous as you; it is nice to know your efforts were appreciated, good on you!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Nov 10
Money, or anything that I've had to purchase brand new has not been something that I've been able to do this year, unfortunately. Now, my sister volunteered at a food, clothing and toy drive last week and I was able to take a huge bag of clothes that the children had outgrown and donated them to the drive. I know that it really wasn't a lot that I was able to give, but I really did feel good about the fact that I was able to find something to donate.
1 person likes this
@yanyanyow (326)
• Philippines
21 Nov 10
that was very nice of you. i live outside America so i dont know about that. me and my family also gives something ever christmas. we clean our closets and remove the things we dont use anymore but can still be used by others. we give it to the remote areas who are not lucky enough. we also try to give donations to the church and to the fast food chain jollibee where in they ask donations of any toys for the poor children. it can really make children smile with a simple stuff toy
1 person likes this
