Harvest festival - asked to bring money instead of tins etc

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi all!

MSE Charlotte's nephew has been asked to bring money into his Harvest Festival rather than tins, cereals etc and we're a bit surprised to say the least!

Does your kids' school do this?

We're discussing it on Twitter too if you want to help her out on there rather than here.

pawsies

They should at least give the option of food or money. If you ask for money people won't know how much to give and kids could be belittled because they only gave £10 whereas Johnny gave £30.

Seems very unfair and a judgmental way of doing it

Newly_retired

Have they said what it is for?
My grandchildren's school have asked for tins and toiletries to send to the homeless centre and the hospice - fine.
But gradually we are getting further and further away from the concept of harvest, if money is being requested, though I don't have a problem with money being collected for a suitable charity, especially to help those who are destitute.
Some explanations are needed though.

Counting_Pennies_2

Yes we had this for a few years. The feedback went to the school that we were unhappy.


Perhaps get in touch with the local food bank and ask them to get in contact with the school well in advance of next year. They can give the school flyers to photocopy and hand out at school so the office staff don't have to worry about it.


Then the foodbank can collect the food in a van, saving them any hassle

sarahkmv

My daughter's school has asked for money for several years, but they request small change so they can have a "river of silver". This way kids aren't belittled as obviously 10 5ps looks like a lot. The money goes to our local homeless charity where it's put to great use. I can't see this is an issue (BTW, it's faith school if that makes any difference).


The school I work at is a non faith school and we ask for food. The tins etc go to the Sally Army to distribute and the veg and perishables are sold at school with the money going to the Sally Army too.

Mojisola

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

MSE Charlotte's nephew has been asked to bring money into his Harvest Festival rather than tins, cereals etc and we're a bit surprised to say the least!

Times change! I remember older generation relatives being shocked when their children were allowed to take tinned food or packets to school for harvest festival rather than only the fresh produce that was traditional.

Perhaps the donations this year are being given to a charity rather than handed on to people directly?

Maysie

I think its become more popular in recent years. I hate it and never gave anything at all last year. Stuff the school and their kudos for how much they raised. The year they did the homeless charity that provides meals they wanted money but i sent in a huge catering bag of yorkshire pudding mix from 99p store I was not the only one to send food either as they displayed it all.

When i was at school we collected food and gave little hampers to local elderly folk. I would prefer they do this again.

Flossie.

pawsies wrote: »

They should at least give the option of food or money. If you ask for money people won't know how much to give and kids could be belittled because they only gave £10 whereas Johnny gave £30.

Seems very unfair and a judgemental way of doing it

Agree. If they had little envelopes like you get in Church, where you can put your money in and nobody knows what's in it; then fine, but otherwise... Nooooo.

Gloomendoom

They are bit late for a harvest festival. About a month.

maman

Newly_retired wrote: »

Have they said what it is for?
My grandchildren's school have asked for tins and toiletries to send to the homeless centre and the hospice - fine.
But gradually we are getting further and further away from the concept of harvest, if money is being requested, though I don't have a problem with money being collected for a suitable charity, especially to help those who are destitute.
Some explanations are needed though.

I don't think so. Unlike in the old days, the fruits of most people's labours is money not food they've grown themselves and 'safely gathered in'. Hopefully the origins will still be explained to the children.


I think schools find it more and more difficult to find places that want perishables and maybe this school is going for a donation to a charity rather than tins and jars which is very commonplace.

Mrs_Soup

I wouldn't want to do money- we give money for enough other things (children in need, jeans for genes etc) through school so its nice to do something different. Food banks are much in demand these days so I can't see it would be difficult to find somewhere to give stuff to. Our school does say this is what they are doing and sends a list of suggestions (basically tins). We had a load of tins plus one huge pumpkin that got made into soup for all the children to try.