I would like to share one of things I do for our school. We are a very small school, border country, and have limited funds for the "extra stuff." Our PTA is typically very small, parent participation is not what it should be at our school, so I am always trying to do what I can to get the book donations, the fundraising donations, the little "giveaway goodies" for the different student achievement events throughout the year. One thing I did during the summer break was work on getting bookmarks for the library. That is one they go through - fast - every year, and the cost to print them themselves is also costly with paper and ink, and the time it takes to cut them all up, too. So I started writing our local governments, local museums, local authors, and explained I am trying to fill our library with needed bookmarks for the students, and I started getting a big response from so many organizations sending them. I have a boot-box full of bookmarks to pass off to our library now. It's awesome! We want to encourage our kids to read, and it is always fun getting a cool bookmark to go with that library book.

I've seen companies request shipping/processing fees and understand why, as sometimes making donations available is labor-intensive, and I'd rather pay a little to offset their costs or make it easier if it makes it possible for them to continue giving. Sadly, as others have discovered and posted on this board, many companies have had to stop or have gotten very restricted. For an amount as little as $1, I'm wondering if NC State simply wants to make sure you really want their item, in which case you will follow through (and others won't).

Check around to see if anybody is going that way & see if they would be willing to pick it up. I was able to do that last year.

Thanks! The donation is 2 hours away and I'm guessing that is why...however I really was hoping that they would just send it to us

I have never had to pay shipping on a donation. However we have been able to purchase items at a discounted rate & then we paid shipping if couldn't be picked up.

Hi! I received emails this year from American Girl Doll, Carolina Panthers, Portrait innovations, CVS, and NC State. I do have a question. I got an approval from NC State and got an unusual approval email:

Your request has been approved. The redemption certificate will be mailed to the address provided at the time of request when we receive your $1 shipping fee. We only accept cash or check.

It then goes on with the address to send it to. Is it normal to have to pay a shipping fee for donations?

Thanks!