By John Grindrod
Guest Columnist
During the course of a typical week, it’s not unusual for me to receive 15 to 20 solicitations. Since I’ve tried to support the causes about which I’ve researched to ensure most of what’s donated goes to the cause and not to inflated salaries of administrators and about which I care, I’m pretty sure my name has been passed around to other organizations, which may explain the high volume.
However, many of the pleas for help, given their volume, wind up torn in half and trashed. While I do feel bad, there are simply too many to give to all. While time tends to fade our memories some, I think I’m accurate in remembering that the volume of solicitations is much heavier nowadays than years ago.
One thing that amuses me is when I receive a solicitation that comes with an explanatory letter as all do, and the salutation reads something like, “Dear Mr. Grindord.” Since I’m a pretty firm believer in protecting the spelling sanctity of proper nouns, especially people’s names, those pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears.
A number of years ago, some organizations began trying to entice potential donors to reach for their checkbooks by offering gifts as incentives. The first ones I remember are sheets of address labels. And, while the address labels are still often used by organizations seeking financial support, over time, a number of other enticements now are used.
Among the items I’ve received are pairs of gloves, both gardening and winter; blankets, although they’ve tended to be far too small and far too thin to warm anyone living in what, at times, is the bone-chilling Midwest; pairs of socks, which are generally a bit too short for my taste; small calculators; letter openers, which can be used to open up lots of solicitation mail; small flashlights, both as part of a key chain and as separate items; note pads, although I find myself using less of these since Alexa has been so helpful in sending me reminder texts that I previously would have written down; and more greeting cards for various occasions than I could use in a couple of lifetimes.
Another enticement trend that has evolved over time has been the practice of including an actual check, generally in the amount of $2.00 or $2.50 that actually can be cashed. The idea of this is explained in the accompanying plea letter, which is for the donor to endorse the check and send it back to the organization along with a personal check with a donation. I think most do as I do, which is, if I choose not to donate, to shred the check. I always wonder how many people are cashing those checks, thereby not only not giving but costing the organization money.
As for all the unsolicited solicitations that come in my mail, I would say that the best free stuff comes from an organization I always associate with Spencer Tracy. Tracy starred as Boys Town founder Father Flanagan in the 1938 movie Boys Town. Although the Good Father passed away in 1948, his successors have used many of the same principles to sustain the operation at the flagship facility in Omaha and have even expanded it with two hospitals and several health clinics.
Their freebies include a wide variety of magazines, many of which are quite interesting, such as the updated versions of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, and the magazines make for good reading, especially in the necessary room. Additionally, many of the magazines have provided me some ideas for my columns. Also included from time to time are recipe magazines as well, which this weekend gourmand always appreciates.
While much has been written about the various ways one can stop receiving so many solicitations, I actually don’t mind the flow of pleas. Certainly they’re preferable to bills, and it’s always up to me whether I want to lend some financial assistance or tear the envelopes in two. And, of course there may be something free that is actually usable.
More importantly than the desirability of any of the freebies, the mailings serve as an important reminder for me, which is that there are a whole lot of folks out there far less fortunate than I have been throughout so much of my life.
John Grindrod is a regular columnist for The Lima News, a freelance writer and editor and the author of two books. Reach him at [email protected].
