Scam

Ever been scammed?

Recently, I had an experience that made my stomach turn. After my daughter’s performance for a theatre program, the camp director pleaded with the audience to give generously to a particular charity. Citing previous monetary donations and participation by recipients of the charity, two baskets were ceremoniously carried, church style, down each aisle collecting the unreceipted donations.

Once hoodwinked, the baskets came to the front whereby one of the two children exclaimed “look dad, 100 dollars from that man at the back”. His eyes alight with wonder.

It felt slimey.

But we gave anyway, under the watchful gaze of our daughter and the boy collecting the funds. We were, after all, in the front row. And there I sat, humiliated, having invited family members to the performance, only to have their wallets and senses assaulted by a very disingenuous request.

Later, I decided to pursue this odd feeling. First, I contacted the charity and then, upon further research, the provincial regulatory authority. There are rules about fund raising and solicitation. You, as a consumer and citizen, are protected it seems.

The charity, obviously wishing to avoid negative publicity, immediately responded with a “we’ll get back to you”. The provincial authority took my name and number and promised to investigate possible action and get back to me.

Upon more research of the company in question, I discovered they, had in the past, under a different corporate name, donated time and talent to the very same charity but there was no record of a corporate donation as suggested on that afternoon.

What was unsettling earlier had become downright fishy – a stench that even Febreez wouldn’t be able to deal with.

While I am out only a toonie, think of that individual who donated $100 in the belief that it was helping the needy.

Scam I say, Scam.

Where the money goes

Along with Kevin Donovan's Investigative series on Give and Take for the Toronto Star, I too am dismayed by the lack of an effective and efficient regulatory body for charities in Canada.

While there is an avenue for the private citizen to report questionable charitable organizations, there is pray little that can be done to stop the small time fraudulent behaviour of some third party solicitors.

As with many things monetary, buyer beware.

Toddler Travel

While seven years into this adventure, some call parenthood, I continue to learn new and what might be considered by others, basic things.

Travel clothes should be saved until the moment of departure. Placing them on said child beforehand with a stern restriction of "don't get dirty" is akin to putting Monica Geller in a messy room and admonishing her "not to clean".

And so, lesson learned.

As always, I plan and God laughs.