Since my last epistle i have recieved mailshots from Oxfam(2 chunky magazines by way of being newsletters as well as a begging letter), Cats Protection League (x2 begging letters), Sally Army (x2), Woodland Trust, Amnesty International (x2), Camphill Family, Age Concern, International Primate Protection League, Friends of the Earth, International Fund for Animal Welfare (x2), Red Cross, Breadline Africa, St Mungos, NCH, Feed My People, RNID, Womankind Worldwide, & Sightsavers.

Given that most of those will have sent me letters of some kind in the month before that i do wonder if this is the most efficient, cost-effective way of raising money? Are there indeed stats that show the ‘throw enough mud at a wall & some will stick’ approach works? Perhaps there are people who, if they get enough e-mails from X charity will be worn down & send a tenner or whatever? Are records kept by charities to show that it took so many mailshots to get money out of someone? I do hope there is a correlation or it is a bit hit & miss, and that at the expense of  the planet in terms of paper used in the mailshots. Not to mention a waste of monies previously donated. And why don’t the charities i support have a spreadsheet/database to show that i give 2-3 times per year so there is no point mailing me twice a month begging for cash.  Do charities not realise even their (relatively) regular supporters have other priorities too?  I have to come back to my idea of barcoded envelopes or stickers which when read will show who has given and therefore generate the issue of another sticker/envelope. At least to regular givers.

 Anyway, enough ranting. Too too tedious to go over all of the above esp as most irritate by using cellophane windows and sending way too much bumf. But a few i want to mention.

Feed My People was new to me yet they value me so much they sent me a pair of baby-sized sports socks.  What’s that about then? Hope one of those envelopes doesn’t reach a woman who has had a miscarriage or a stillbirth or whatever. they explain this is the best way to show how much my help would mean to a child in need. Yeah like undernourished orphans with no proper home are down the gym or out running marathons. If the kids do need the socks -and i am sure they do, along with many other basics – maybe you could just give the socks to the children themselves? As Anne Robinson says…

Womankind Worldwide, also new to me. Intrigues this unreconstructed 1970s femionist, esp as it appears to help on all continents. And any charity which is working towards ending the horror of FGM (female genital mutilation) dereves my consideration. Which it will get in Jan as i am all spent out this month.

IFAW sent me a large polythene wrapped appeal unopened which looked like something one used to get from Reders Digest eg liberally fest ’sweepstake’ festooned with words like ‘free’ ‘prizes’ ‘win’ and ‘gift’. I am as likely to repond to that level of tackiness as switch the TV on to watch ‘Big Brother’.  And if there are those who will open it purely on the basis that they will get something for nothing will surely bin the appeal as soon as they realise they have to give to get? Anne, do your thing…

Removing my ‘bah humbug’ hat i was very happy with what i was sent by Sightsavers International, The Woodland Trust, ‘Tools for Self-Reliance’ and ‘Camphill Family Trust’. Had a newsletter from each which was informative & heartwarming. Even if they haven’t given up on the  cellophane yet!

 Now ’scuse me as i must slip into something sparkly for my stint at the top of the tree…

Happy Marxmas/Yuletide/Kwanzai/Eid/Hannukah/Christmas to one & all!

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