Ask Lady With A Hat

Donate a dollar at the checkout, mum? April 22, 2009

Dear Patty and Sandy, Dear Lady with a Hat,

I am growing increasingly resentful of the store clerks who ask me if I’d like to donate $1 to cure cancer, help homeless pets, feed the homeless, cure muscular dystrophy, etc., every time I shop. While they are all good causes, I don’t donate to anything that I don’t have an opportunity to look into myself. Should I just give? Invest the time to ask for more information every time I go to the store? Ask to speak to the manager? Is there a Web site that critiques the charities?

Eva

Dear Eva,

Fuck ‘em, I say. If you’re already giving to charitable causes, why should you feel guilty about saying no? And if you’re not, I doubt a checkout clerk will change your mind, right? If they ask, just say no. Tell them you gave at the office, or that you already support charities of your choice, and that you don’t appreciate being hounded every time you try to spend a little money on something nice for yourself.

Besides, the saying goes “Charity starts at home,” not “Charity starts at the supermarket.”