[Bookstoprisoners] the donation idea

[Jacqueline Hannah]

Hello,

I just wanted to take a moment and comment on the responses that have been
posted to the donation envelope idea -

First, as Jay said, I was not suggesting the organization try to "sell"
books from the bin nor encourage the "shopping" from the bin.  My intent was
to pass on a reality of the bin use as someone who has worked right next to
them for years and seen how they are used by your donors and others.  My
suggestion for donation envelopes was just a brainstorm on how to turn this
issue into a way to bring in extra funds for the organization.

I don't think it is realistic to expect the browsing and "shopping" to ever
be entirely curbed and while some of you have made clear you feel this is
stealing, I have run that view past several handfuls of folks I've talked to
at the co-op in the last week and gotten incredulous responses - whether any
of us agree or not, people who regularly donate to the bins either feel
entitled to pick up a book or two as long as they intend to donate (many
said they are careful only to take books like gardening books, toddler board
books, etc that prisoners are unlikely to be able to make use of) *or* they
do not participate in this practice themselves but had a negative reaction
to hearing that the organization might take such a hardline attitude toward
the shopping, going so far as to call it "stealing".

When I informed these folks that BTP gets a lot of its funds these days for
mailing and books that have to be ordered (like dictionaries) by selling the
choice donations on E-Bay they did not know this (nor did I until this
convo) and it did change their attitude toward the "shopping" practice.

I share all of this to say:

No matter what our personal takes on it, people will do this.  If BTP is
going to try to discourage this activity, I hope that the communication used
to do this takes a positive tone and refrains from calling the practice
"wrong" or "criminal" as I think this will endear no one to the org.  On the
other hand, something that included many of the points that came up in this
convo like:

"Hello, BTP supporters, thank you for your donations!
Did you know:
- that these books go directly to prisoners who request them OR
- are sold on-line to pay for our book shipping costs OR
- are placed in our book sales to help BTP raise funds to mail books to
prisoners?

Every book is a huge help to BTP, thanks so much for donating!
If you would like to shop for used books and support BTP at the same time,
please join us for our next book sale.  You can find out when it will be at
our website, www.nameofwebsite.org"

People don't mean to steal or hurt the org in most cases, they just don't
consider these issues or know how the books are used.  Giving them the
benefit of the doubt while educating them on the org would make a lot more
fans and perhaps help curb the "shopping".  The other thing that encourages
shopping is very full bins that sit for days - I know that this is no one's
fault, but it is an issue.  The bin at Common Ground has been overflowing
for over a week now and I have seen many a book disappear.  When the books
all fit in the bin I see very few books disappear.

Regardless, the donation envelopes might be nice or even just an address on
the bins - people have asked me where they can send donations to BTP.  Also,
I would be interested in having the co-op host a donations day for BTP in
the fall.  I need to get the IDF's approval, but it would be great if we had
table out front of the store entrance for BTP that was staffed on a busy day
and we had a Seed Sowing Day for BTP - this is where a percentage of all
sales for the day go to a local org that enriches our community.

In the spirit of support,
Jacqueline Hannah
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