Tired of freebies from charities

Dear Annie: Are we the only people who think charitable organizations have gone off the deep end? We don’t want the pins and certificates of appreciation or the plastic membership cards. We can’t possibly use 15 wall calendars, six pocket calendars and four packages of greeting cards. We don’t want T-shirts and tote bags with the organization’s name emblazoned on them.

We also don’t appreciate the envelopes with stamps attached that are apparently intended to produce a guilt trip. We’ve written to ask them to take us off their mailing list. What else can we do to stop the waste? – Disgusted Givers from Illinois

Dear Disgusted: Not much. Some of those “gifts,” like tote bags and T-shirts, are a form of advertising for the organization. You can find out how specific charities spend their money by checking with the American Institute of Philanthropy ( charitywatch.org) or Charity Navigator ( charitynavigator.org).

Dear Annie: I read the letter from “Disappointed Grandmother,” whose grandchildren never sent thank-you notes.

When my parents were in their 80s, I helped them mail gifts to the grandchildren. They wanted a thank-you note, not only as an acknowledgement of their gift, but in order to hear from their grandchildren.

I solved the problem. When I sent the gift, I enclosed a stamped, self-addressed thank-you card along with it. It took only one little nudge, and they sent thank-you notes to my parents from that time on. I never told my folks what I did, but they were very proud of their well-mannered grandchildren. – C.