s/o Rose Art Crayons and Donations

[kadams767]

So, I understand the outrage and uproar over the crayons and toys stuff, and I absolutely agree with it.  I do my best to always buy specific items for holiday wishlists and donate nice school supplies.  I was wondering if this same feeling applies in regard to food donations, though.  I am putting together donations to our local food pantry with my nephew to help him learn about helping others and charity.  I have a budget of $100 for our donations.  Normally, I am in agreement with the sentiment of donating cash to maximize the food bank's buying power, but my nephew is not at an age where he would really get that, and I think having him help shop and pick out the items will have a much bigger impact on him.  So we made a list together of traditional Thanksgiving items and our favorite things, and went shopping with the goal of giving bags with as close to a full Thanksgiving holiday of food as possible.  At the store, it became obvious that our $100 would stretch further and we could provide probably an entire extra bag if we bought many store-brand items.  I ended up buying a mix, but I did wonder if I was pulling a Rose-art crayons by buying Wegmans brand fried onions instead of French's, for example. Personally, for my own household, I have no issue with generic food items, and can attest the to the quality being fine, IMO.  I feel like in the case of food donations, it might make more sense to buy as much as possible, but maybe I'm off base?

[pixy0stix]

I'd do generic if I personally knew it tasted just the same.

[kadams767]

I can vouch in general, as in, I buy Wegmans brand items all the time and have never really had an issue, but not necessarily for each specific item. Mostly because I haven't tried all of them personally.

[katfco]

We always eat generic when we can, so that's what we'd give, too.

Of course, I'm not anti generic crayons either, so take that for what it's worth.

[hopecounts]

I go with that I buy what I use myself when shopping to donate to the food kitchen.
That means some things are generics since I've used them and know they taste just as good, if it's a food item I go name brand on I stick to the name brand for the food pantry.

[foundmylazybum]

Alton Brown regularly uses Publix brands on his shows and so do we--and for a lot of things they work exactly the same. Some things we don't. Like broths. I've noticed a distinct difference in using cheaper broths (even all natural organic cheaper broths) than the Pacific or Imagine brands. I personally really prefer Imagine brand. But otherwise..eh. I'm good.

[mollybrown]

Nov 23, 2014 14:06:18 GMT -5 @happybythekilowatt said:

My rule is that I don't give something I wouldn't use myself. 

I think this is a great standard.  Exception being things that are very individual.  I donated a ton of apple sauce pouches because my son refuses to eat them if they say 'organic," and my daughter won't eat any flavor other than plain apple.  I'm sure there are many kids who would enjoy organic apple strawberry pouches, so I'm not going to toss them because we won't use them.

My kids have Rose Art markers that are 5 years old, and they use them interchangeably with Crayola markers.  I would have no problem donating Rose Art.

[lilibet]

Nov 23, 2014 14:06:18 GMT -5 @happybythekilowatt said:

My rule is that I don't give something I wouldn't use myself. So I would give store brand canned veggies because I know they are equal to a brand name, but I wouldn't give generic ketchup because everyone deserves Heinz and nothing compares. I think you did great.

I do this too. If I won't eat it, I won't give it.

I'd include certain store brands of peanut butter too, along with ketchup (I hate Walmart's PB, but Cub Food/Country Market is just fine).

[statlerwaldorf]

The issue with me between Rose Art and Crayola is the big difference in quality. I buy a lot of generic food products and I can't think of any where the quality is not comparable.

Unless you are working with an organization that does specific Thanksgiving baskets, I would avoid getting specialty items like cranberry sauce and french onions. A lot of companies will donate the excess from their holiday displays after Thanksgiving. We had a shelf full of cranberry sauce that sat there all the way into the spring. Cranberry sauce counted as a fruit and families are only allowed so many canned fruit items. They almost always pick canned peaches, pears, etc. over the cranberry sauce.

[kadams767]

Nov 23, 2014 14:56:50 GMT -5 statlerwaldorf said:

The issue with me between Rose Art and Crayola is the big difference in quality. I buy a lot of generic food products and I can't think of any where the quality is not comparable.

Unless you are working with an organization that does specific Thanksgiving baskets, I would avoid getting specialty items like cranberry sauce and french onions. A lot of companies will donate the excess from their holiday displays after Thanksgiving. We had a shelf full of cranberry sauce that sat there all the way into the spring. Cranberry sauce counted as a fruit and families are only allowed so many canned fruit items. They almost always pick canned peaches, pears, etc. over the cranberry sauce.

This is good to know for the upcoming Christmas season, thanks.  But yes, this particular donation is Thanksgiving-focused and the wish list posted specifically included things like cranberry sauce, yams, etc.  In addition to the Thanksgiving specific items, we did also include other things like coffee, tea, cereal, oatmeal and PB.  

[msmerymac]

A lot of Wegmans and Trader Joes items are very good. There are certain things that most/many people prefer the name brand of, though. Like most condiments. French's yellow mustard vs store brand, Heinz ketchup, hellman's mayo.

[pixy0stix]

Nov 23, 2014 14:23:06 GMT -5 mollybrown said:

Nov 23, 2014 14:06:18 GMT -5 @happybythekilowatt said:

My kids have Rose Art markers that are 5 years old, and they use them interchangeably with Crayola markers.  I would have no problem donating Rose Art.

No. Rose art is crap. Especially the crayons.

[KB]

We buy all kinds of Wegmans brand items. The quality is excellent. I think you did fine.

[overture]

Also, it's going to be adults using this stuff, not kids, so I think they'd be less sensitive to the brand issue. Kids want Crayola over Rose Art because they want the stuff that other kids have. Adults probably know that people of all income levels buy store-brand food.

[Deleted]

I would buy generics for anything I would normally. I buy a mix normally.

I don't think food is the same as school supplies for kids.

[darthnbjenni]

I buy our local store brand, Southern Home. Almost every thing tastes the same or better than name brand. But then again, I also buy Up & Up markers for my kids and classroom.

[speckledfrog]

You may as well draw with a candle if you are going to use Rose Art crayons. They are absolutely not the same as Crayola. Generic markers aren't as good, either. I used to buy supplies for a preschool and, believe me, there is a difference.

[Deleted]

Nov 23, 2014 21:01:16 GMT -5 darthnbjenni said:

I buy our local store brand, Southern Home. Almost every thing tastes the same or better than name brand. But then again, I also buy Up & Up markers for my kids and classroom.

Southern Home soup tastes like ass.

You're welcome.

[greeneggs]

I only buy food I would use myself when shopping for a food pantry. We got a specific list from the church of what the local groups needed and I bought a mix of generic and name brand depending on my personal preferences. I did buy lots of my favorite coffee because if you need to get food from the pantry you should get a small indulgence in your morning caffeine.

[AJL]

I donate only food I would also eat.

I only by Crayola brand crayons.

My local store brand (HEB) is really good.

[darthnbjenni]

Nov 24, 2014 0:34:11 GMT -5 @helenabonhamcarter said:

Nov 23, 2014 21:01:16 GMT -5 darthnbjenni said:

I buy our local store brand, Southern Home. Almost every thing tastes the same or better than name brand. But then again, I also buy Up & Up markers for my kids and classroom.

Southern Home soup tastes like ass.

You're welcome.

Lol. I'm not a big canned soup eater. I use their cream of whatever for bases; that's about it.

[meshaliuknits]

Nov 24, 2014 12:00:51 GMT -5 mr+ms said:

I had no idea Rose Art crayons were looked down upon with such disdain, lol! I have a confession: we bought Cra-Z-art crayons and markers for DD's first grade class this year. That sounds even worse than Rose Art.

I think I have some credibility on the topic as I went to art school, but I don't remember Rose Art being so terrible. They are more waxy than Crayola but the colors are bright enough. I can't imagine the elementary crowd really gives a shit. I certainly didn't as a kid. The markers seem fine as well. Colored pencils are another story.

And when you really need something to be "washable" then yeah, I'll agree that Crayola is the way to go.

The colors are fine, but the coverage is crap. You want to see a preschooler pissed off, give my daughter a picture to color and crayons that skip while you're coloring.

She has oil based crayons that she got ToTing (who does that?) that she looooooooves because they cover EVERYTHING.

[madringal]

I had this same dilemma this weekend at Meijer. DD's Daisy troop is collecting boxes of mashed potatoes for a food drive. If I bought generic I could get like 5 extra boxes, but then I didn't want to be all "generic instant mashed potatoes for poor people" - so I got name brand. Then MIL comes over with Aldi brand boxes, but way more boxes then I brought (and we probably spent about the same) and DD was all like "Look how many people will get potaotes mom!".

[pixy0stix]

So here's the general rule of thumb:

1. If it's a gift - always buy new (re: Angel Trees)
2. Don't buy the cheaper thing just because it's cheap. It has to be just as good or better than the name brand. If it's not as good then don't buy it. (re: Rose Art vs Crayola)

It's not that hard!

[laurenpetro]

Nov 24, 2014 12:49:27 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Nov 24, 2014 12:00:51 GMT -5 mr+ms said:

I had no idea Rose Art crayons were looked down upon with such disdain, lol! I have a confession: we bought Cra-Z-art crayons and markers for DD's first grade class this year. That sounds even worse than Rose Art.

I think I have some credibility on the topic as I went to art school, but I don't remember Rose Art being so terrible. They are more waxy than Crayola but the colors are bright enough. I can't imagine the elementary crowd really gives a shit. I certainly didn't as a kid. The markers seem fine as well. Colored pencils are another story.

And when you really need something to be "washable" then yeah, I'll agree that Crayola is the way to go.

The colors are fine, but the coverage is crap. You want to see a preschooler pissed off, give my daughter a picture to color and crayons that skip while you're coloring.

She has oil based crayons that she got ToTing (who does that?) that she looooooooves because they cover EVERYTHING.

oil pastels are the tits. i give those to every kid who even THINKS they might like art.

[panicked]

Nov 24, 2014 1:07:01 GMT -5 AJL said:

I donate only food I would also eat.

I only by Crayola brand crayons.

My local store brand (HEB) is really good.

Yes it is! HEB is amazing.

[Deleted]

Nov 24, 2014 12:54:49 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

So here's the general rule of thumb:

1. If it's a gift - always buy new (re: Angel Trees)
2. Don't buy the cheaper thing just because it's cheap. It has to be just as good or better than the name brand. If it's not as good then don't buy it. (re: Rose Art vs Crayola)

It's not that hard!

Pretty much.

If you have to, think of what you would buy for your niece or nephew if their parents were struggling and weren't able to give them much of a Christmas. Would you buy your niece after the rough year she's had some rose art crayons and low rent headphones or would you happily buy her the same crayons you would buy for your own children and the headphones she really wants?

[decemberwedding07]

I missed the whole thing with the Rose Art crayons. Are they bad, or something? That's what my mom always bought for us. Were we poor and I never even knew it?

[hopecounts]

Nov 24, 2014 14:32:56 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

I missed the whole thing with the Rose Art crayons. Are they bad, or something? That's what my mom always bought for us. Were we poor and I never even knew it?

They are pretty crappy crayons for coloring so you don't buy them to donate or to give to kids because all kids deserve crayola.

[decemberwedding07]

Nov 24, 2014 14:46:59 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

Nov 24, 2014 14:32:56 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

I missed the whole thing with the Rose Art crayons. Are they bad, or something? That's what my mom always bought for us. Were we poor and I never even knew it?

They are pretty crappy crayons for coloring so you don't buy them to donate or to give to kids because all kids deserve crayola.

I'm going to call my mom and tell her she ruined my childhood by being so cheap. I probably would have become a world famous artist if I had only been raised with quality crayons...