Vocal Voices

Do you also regularly get an envelope through the door from the British Red Cross containing a pen, some cards and envelopes and matching coasters?

I don't want them and equally don't like the fact that they are trying to play on your guilt because they cannot be returned. The message on the envelope says: This is unaddressed mail being distributed in your area. Please do not return. Please use or recycle

Just how much money do they waste making these things and how much do they actually get in return? I usually end up recycling mine because as said - I don't want them.

If you get them, what do you do with yours?


The ones we got through the post earlier this week are Christmas themed with a little robbin on it with holly berries. If anyone here does have use for them let me know and I'll post them off to you

Mick already does a DD for Red Cross so I keep anything they send, guilt-free I do however get charity Christmas cards most years, from other charities, and other stuff, but my take on it is whilst I do donate to charity I choose my own, and won't be blackmailed. If they send it to me, I'll keep it!

It makes me cross too!
We've had two lots of coasters, can't remember who the other lot are from.
I choose what charities to subscribe to, and give to others - of my choosing - as and when I can.
We'll use the coasters and refuse to feel guilty, we didn't ask for them and as you say, it says do not return

I use them but don't give to any charity on the principle
I'm paying a fat cats wage
When you see there offices and life style
I do however give to collections in Morrison's or were ever
British legion age UK and local ones
Same with charity bags I keep them to put rubbish in
Only give to age UK because there van has there logo on
The rest are white van men

saundra wrote:Same with charity bags I keep them to put rubbish in ...

Yes, we do the same, saundra, (don't use them for kitchen waste though because they've generally got holes in the bottom of them), and we do turn them inside out so the charity logo doesn't show.

I don't have any problem with using unsolicited freebies sent through the post, to be honest, simply because they are unsolicited. I've never asked for them and never asked to be put on a mailing list, so if the charities want to use their money that way, that's up to them. No-one's ever sent me a coaster, though - but I do have enough printed address labels to last me to about 2045, at the rate I write letters ....

Fully agree about the fat-cat salaries, also the money they are sitting on in their banks - for those reasons I never give to national charities, only small local ones where I think there is at least some chance of most of my money reaching its intended target.

I have two direct debits, one to the Air Ambulance, as they get no government funding and the other to our local hospice, which is actually some kind of lottery scheme, but again they rely on funding. I also buy things from Luke's charity, Sturge Weber Uk, as they are just a small group of mums running it and I sponsor two guinea pigs to help my friends small guinea pig sanctuary

TheOstrich wrote:

saundra wrote:Same with charity bags I keep them to put rubbish in ...

Yes, we do the same, saundra, (don't use them for kitchen waste though because they've generally got holes in the bottom of them), and we do turn them inside out so the charity logo doesn't show.

I do the same - they're the perfect size for the bin that I collect my recycling in; I don't bother about turning them inside out though - they go straight from bin to bin

TheOstrich wrote:No-one's ever sent me a coaster, though

You can have the ones I've been sent if you want them



Shell I also have two charities I donate to, Cats Protection and Cancer Research. And then I donate as and when I can either with money or my time

Thank you for that kind offer, Meriad, but I think I'll pass ..... we've more coasters than we know what to do with already in this house!