Fundraisers

I am looking to hear parent opinion on school fundraisers.

Aubrey just brought home a packet, highlighting the four fundraisers the PTA is sponsoring during this school year. One is a wreath sale, one is for various home products, one is world's finest chocolate, and one is a parent/staff b-ball game against another school.

The form that came home with it encourages participation but also gives you an opt out portion. If you opt out of fundraisers you are "given the opportunity" to send a check for x number of dollars. All funds raised go toward field trips and school assemblies.

Here's my opinion. I hated fundraising when I was in school and I dislike it now. I am not comfortable asking the same friends and family over and over again to buy very expensive candles and chocolate. People feel obligated and many aren't in a financial position to be spending $20 on a candle. I refuse to go door to door. I also have four kids. Five years from now I will be asking my parents to buy four wreaths for one million dollars each for every single year. Nope, not in this life time.

I have a friend whose school has a fun run to raise money. Like the above mentioned basketball game, this feels better. People can donate whatever amount they want, it's a family event, it's exercise, and it's fun. Begging aunties to spend $$$ on candles is not fun.

We are going to opt out of the fundraisers this year and send a check to cover what I see as Aubrey's portion of field trips and assemblies. I want the school to have these things and I'd way rather go this route.

Here's my questions. What do you think about fundraising? Am I depriving Aubrey and my other kids of an important value by not having them participate? Is there some greater good I'm missing out on my cutting a check?

p.s. As you may have guessed, I would make a poor PTA president.