Question re: My "encouraged" donation to a local charity.....

Well here is my first test of sorts in this new era. The very large global corporation I work for is having yet another charity drive and all employees are "encouraged" to participate. While un-spoken, failure to participate could be seen as not being a "team player" and therefore have a bottom line $$$ impact during my yearly review cycle.

This particular drive is for the local area food bank. Last year our company gave the 3rd largest donation (in lbs of food) to this food bank in their history and they want to do more this time around. All the food goes to help the local community which overwhelming supported Kerry but is surrounded by a sea of red counties in a red state.... yes THE BIGGEST red state.

So what would you folks do ?

1) Help out your fellow citizens in a rare blue county for this state and ultimately help improve the image of a major red donor corporation.

2) Decline to participate in the helping of other locals, for the first time in my life, just to make the point that America has entered a new "pro-self" era and it is now every man, woman, child, and animal for themselves. Not to mention the possible ramifications to my reputation with co-workers.

I think I know what my answer is going to be. Considering I too am raging against the reds with the same "Fuck 'em" attitude that has been championed here lately, support will require me to "flip-flop" from my initial position regarding future charitable contributions to the reds and require me look a little deeper into what my core values really are.

I am just not sure if I am ready to give up the easy path for the harder one as yet.

Just asking......I am sure all of you are going to be faced with something similar over the next four years......

MZr7

Don't let you detest for others compromise your beliefs

Don't let your corporation have the credit, at any rate.

and the whole time we are doing it we are going to wear Democrats t-shirts.
We are doing a food drive/toy drive will be putting all these things in the local papers too.

The area will know it is the Democrats doing these things.

I used to work at a company that REQUIRED all employees to contribute to the United Way so that they could say that they had 100% participation. Making a minimal $1 contribution was how I reconcilled my initial objections with my eventual behavior. Didn't like it either. And I no longer work there.

And the volunteer to head next year's campaign. And if you do get to run the campaign next year, make arrangements for your company's execs to spend a little time at the food bank passing out the food their empoloyees have bought and make sure those people tell their stories to your executives.

It is too easy to have a fund drive and raise some money and write a check to people you will never have to interact with. Make it your mission to see to it that your company understands why these people need your company's help.

Take control and make a difference rather then being controlled and making none.

Thanks again...

MZr7

PS, I liked the sentiment from the first post as well...

"Don't let our disdain for others corrupt the values within ourselves"

But I totally refuse to do it through my job or to give anything at all to the United Way goons. I really don't appreciate someone trying to intimidate me into giving to their "charity."

that is what is important, not the "image" of the company. If you don't want the company to get the credit, decline to join in, but donate food to the food bank independently and anonymously.