Halloween Can Drive Charity: Good Idea or Too Much to Ask?

I think he is right. Why don't you hand out a little flyer and go back the next day or the next weekend to collect?

great idea, I'd stop and get her a can or two, but I admit I like several of the ideas to do flyers to warn people,,, Mama A had a great idea... I'd be more likely to donate more that way than if I had to do it on the fly but I'd do it either way. the down side is that we are usually not home on Halloween, so I would miss out on the opportunity to help, unless I was warned ahead of time and could just leave them out.

best of luck

I think that it is a great idea to collect the canned foods, but I agree that giving some notice is a better idea. Here is my suggestion, take it or leave it. I think that you should give notification also, but not because I think it is rude to juse show up and ask, but because I think that you would have better luck getting cans and more response if you gave some notice. I also think that it would take a lot of fun out of the trick or treating experience and more importantly out of the canned food collection experience for your daughter to first of all, not get to hit up every house and for people to say no because they have too mcuh going on or don't have time to go through their pantry.My suggestion should remedy all of these problems. Why don't you do this, go buy a package of brightly colored paper, yellow for instance, print up a flyer saying, we are collecting foods for xyz food pantry, we will be by on 123 date to pick them up, please leave all canned food donations that you are able to make on your front porch in a bag or box and attach this flyer to your donation so that we will know it is meant for us to pick up, thanks! Use Halloween night to distribute these flyers. That way, your daughter would be able to cover many more houses because she can tape them to the doors of houses that aren't home on Halloween and they can still have the opportunity to donate. Also, she can hand deliver it to the homes of the people who are there, while trick or treating for some candy. Some people may say, "well hang on, let me go grab a couple of things ang just give them to you now", so be prepared for that. This also gives you until Halloween night to have the flyers ready. This way your daughter isn't just limited to the people who are home Halloween night, she can also get the people who aren't home Halloween night, like me, but who are willing to donate. It also doesn't interupt the night of those who are home and will give them more time to prepare an entire bag instead of just one item they found fast. It also makes since because you will be going door to door Halloween night, then when you go pick them up, you will be able to just drive around and look at the porches and if you see your flyer out there on a bag or box, stop at the house to pick it up! It would save you a lot of walking too! If you want your daughter to get more gratification out of the experience, obviously have her go with you to pick the food up from the houses, and have her ring the doorbell of everyone who left food out and say thank you to them personally if they are home! She could also make up thank you notes to leave on the doors of houses that left something out but weren't home to thank in person! It could even be as simple as post it notes or something! Just some ideas!

I would put a flyer on my neighbors' doors explaining what your daughter wants to do on Halloween. This way they are ready for it and can have the can by the door when she asks. That way instead of putting people on the spot, your daughter can ask "Did you get my flyer about the food drive?"

Can you make up a quick lil' notice to tape to their doors a few days before Halloween stating that a lil' angel (or whatever costume she is wearing) would like to collect can foods for a food drive as she trick or treats...she will be going down this street on this night. I would even set the cans on my porch if I knew I wasn't going to be there that night...I think it is an awesome idea and will work but I do think a little heads up will make it more successful.

Personally, I think it is great. We have a couple of HS students that do it every year. Of course they do have the literature and signs on their wagon to tell you why they are collecting cans.

Mama A gave GREAT advice. It's a great idea you have, and it'll be MUCH easier to carry flyers in her TorT bag than to cart cans around. You can drive around - perhaps even have it the next day, cause it's not like a person can't get a can out of their cabinet for Sunday, and pick them up in your car. That way, you can remember where you walked so you don't miss anyone :)

If the people in your neighborhood/block know you then I would say ask away.

Otherwise, go for it! But, make a costume out of it or have a good costume AND don't ask people you don't know for anything just have a costume and a sign on your bag that says can drive for plano food pantry. I think people will get the "adult version of trick or treat" and if not then bah-humbug to them : )

I think I would limit it to your immediate neighbors who actually know your child and would want to help her in this endeavor. I think it is a great idea in theory. But I also think your average person is going to be irritated at having to run to the kitchen to decide what to part with, in a hurried situation where it would be hard to say NO. Many people are buying 25 dollars or more in candy anyway, and might be a little chafed at being asked to part with food, as well.

Perhaps your daughter would enjoy coordinating a neighborhood can drive at a later date as an organized "service project". Either way, it sounds like you have a great kid!

I don't think there is anything wrong with her idea and it is admirable of her to think of others.

At the same time, My doorbell does not stop ringing on Halloween night....I'm in a busy neighborhood....I am usually bombarded with kids at my door and I wouldn't leave a bunch a kids at my door to go grab a can of food. If I knew this would happen in advance....I might have a couple of cans by the door for children who ask. I keep change by the door for the children who bring the Unicef boxes for spare change.

Another note...this day and time with the economy...I do not mind helping someone out if I am able. However, I prefer to know the organization name that my donation benefits...similar to a notice or logo like Unicef uses so that we know our donations are going to a worthy, legitimate cause.

I do like a previous response that mentions having some sort of notice that food may be collected and neighbors can be prepared.

Best wishes with your venture!

You need to let people know ahead of time. I don't keep much canned food unless I'm using it in a recipe that week and wouldn't want to give that up. Put out some signs a few days before so people will be prepared. Some people mentioned flyers on each door, but that takes a lot of time and uses lots more paper than just posting some signs around the neighborhood.

I think it's a great idea! If I were you, I would try it at first, if it doesn't work then just continue with regular trick or treating. I think it's a great message to give you dd, not just asking for candy for herself. If I were handing out candy I would be happy to take a minute to grab a can off my shelf! I hope y'all have a wagon, though. I'm sure they wold get heavy very quickly.

What about passing out flyers where you'll be trick our treating the week before to give people a heads up?

I think that is an awesome idea and I also feel it is important to encourage your daughter and promote her thoughtfulness. One thing you might do is make door hangers or flyers to pass out early in the week letting people know that your daughter will be collecting the goods. That way, maybe they will be prepared and have the goods in a bag at the door. You could also say that even if they don't participate in handing out candy or won't be home, that they could still leave a bag of goods on the front porch for her to pick up as she goes by. Our church, McKinney Fellowship does the same thing every year called Scare Away Hunger. You can go to scareawayhunger.org for some ideas. Good luck and God Bless you and your family for wanting to help others.

I think it's an awesome idea!! I totally understand your husband's point of view but what's the worst thing someone can say? no?

Personally, I would not do it. I think

I think it's a great idea. You don't have to necessarily ask at every house; maybe every other house or only until a certain time. But if she wants to ask at each house, I think that is awesome. I think it shows alot of character on DD's part.