How many mystery shop for volunteering?

I take "dedicated to myself" shopping locations to give the proceeds to my grandmother. I take a GFS shop and just get stuff that I know she will like (instant coffee, snack cakes, etc.). She tries to pay me for it and I just tell her truthfully that it was a shop and that the company pays me back plus some extra. So for me to take money from her too would be double payment and not fair. This also works when she needs something and I just pick it up. She doesn't know which clients are shopped and which aren't. She has told me that I should go on that show Extreme Couponers with all the deals I pick up.

How many people shop for groceries for older relatives or give the goodies to the local senior home?

P.S. Taking a take out shop (even bonused) and giving the food to the homeless person is also a great thing to do. They get the food (which is better than money as they can't take it and buy drugs or alcohol).

I take my friend/neighbor who's 90 years old to a restaurant once in a while and she always want to help pay, but I tell her no no...it's paid for by the company. She understands but then wants to leave a tip. No no..that's okay.

I'm happy to go with her. She likes it a lot.

I give my convenience store snacks to any homeless person I can find. I'm not sure, though, if I am helping them or hurting them.

I just finished a project buying toothpaste, mouthwash and breath freshener from a specific company - and a specific brand. The first 2 weeks they asked for evaluations from myself or friends, but after that there was no guidance on what to do with the products. I asked first, and I was told it was no problem to donate the remainder of the product to a retirement home in the area. Total of 24 toothpaste, 8 mouthwash, 12 breath fresheners. The home was very appreciative!!!

I only ever do shops for charity.....ME

I recently did a project where I had to buy different brands of butters and margarines. I didn't want to be stuck eating all that stuff for years so I donated them to my local Meals On Wheels because I know they have a limited food budget and they go through several tubs of butter every month.

When I'm doing fast food shops and I see homeless people hanging around outside the restaurants, I'll give half my meal to them.

I agree about giving food to the homeless. When I have to buy chips or a dessert to go, I will give it to someone.

TeriW Wrote:
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> I give my convenience store snacks to any homeless
> person I can find. I'm not sure, though, if I am
> helping them or hurting them.

Helping.

Definitely helping. I've been there, and ANYthing is appreciated.

I help pay my daughters' student loans with my "cash" proceeds...and wow I would love one of those where you have to buy xxx amount of products to try!

I do tons of hotel shops. All of those nice toiletries go to N Street Village, a shelter and support/training program for homeless women in DC. Extra food goes to homeless on the street or to a local free kitchen.

I'm embarrassed to say I never have given anything away (I don't do FF). I will now be aware and try and help, but I usually eat it all.....NOT! Cleaning out my sister's house, she has literally tons of freebies from hotels (they traveled a lot).
I will now give them to the woman's shelter, along with paperbacks.

Irene,
Becasue some shelters have day programs for fragile seniors, things like books and board games are highly prized. Also, many are helping women apply for jobs, and presentable "interview" clothing is in great demand. For frequent overseas fliers, please note that unopened packages of eye shades and sox are also much wanted at shelters where there is little privacy (Hence the eye shades help to sleep) and many lack sox.

If you look around you, in your home on any day, and especially when cleaning out closets, you will find tons of things that community kitchens and shelters would prize.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2014 12:32PM by walesmaven.

I was at a Subway once and a customer complained that a sandwich was made incorrectly. The employee put the sandwich on the back counter and made a new one. I asked the employee what they do with sandwiches like that and they said they refrigerate them and hand them out whenever a homeless person walks in asking for food. Not sure if all Subways do this, but I thought it was cool.

Whenver Walgreens and CVS have a deal where you get a full refund on an item, I buy it and donate it to a homeless shelter. Only problem is my profile with these people must look nuts. They see me as a white woman with African-American hair who is incontinent, can't sleep, and has toe fungus, among other things!

niteowl Wrote:
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........
> profile with these people must look nuts. They see
> me as a white woman with African-American hair who
> is incontinent, can't sleep, and has toe fungus,
> among other things!



LOL

I often hand out my convenience store goodies to homeless while I am waiting in rush hour traffic to get home. Unfortunately, it is usually white cheddar popcorn and an Arizona Green Tea, not real healthy, but better than nothing I guess. I also (sometimes) pump my gas reimbursement for seniors or teens. I have a teenage son and he would be appreciative for $6 of free gas and most of the ones I give it too are as well.

Wow. This is a great idea. I'm just getting started with mystery shopping, and was wondering what to do with things I buy but do not need, or cannot use.

Thanks for the idea!

An ex-girlfriend of mine, with whom I'm still on good terms, is the director of a homeless shelter. I learned a LOT about the homeless while I was dating and living with her. In addition to many hours speaking with her about the homeless, I spent a lot of time at the shelter and met many of the homeless people there. I also did some computer/network work (pro bono) for the shelter, and volunteered at several functions and fundraisers.

Her shelter is different from most (as far as I know). They require that everyone living there MUST find a job (with help from the shelter, including career training, job search services, clothing for the interview and work clothes). Homeless families AND single adults are allowed to live in the shelter... and families are kept together in a private room in a separate building from the single adults. Everyone is subject to drug and alcohol testing (on the spot!), and NOBODY is allowed to enter/exit the building between 10PM-6AM, unless they were scheduled to WORK during those hours and they must come/go at a time which matches their work schedule if they want to enter/exit between 10PM-6AM. If one of the people living in the shelter fails a drug/alcohol test, their ENTIRE FAMILY is kicked out on the street! Talk about incentive.

At least HALF of their income, while living in the shelter, MUST be placed into a savings account... which the shelter manages for them... for as long as they live there. When they "graduate" from the program, their savings is used to pay for things like security deposit, first month's rent, utility deposits, etc. The whole program is designed to legitimately help people get back on their feet and support themselves.

Individuals and families can live there for up to 2 years, until they have a job which pays enough to support them, and until they have enough money in the (managed) savings account to get started in a new home. The facility does not force people to listen-to/participate-in a religious ceremony/event/service as a condition of receiving services.

The facility is usually full. THIS is the kind of program which actually helps people. They do not shelter those who do not want to help themselves. Many, many homeless people also need lots of psychological help. They offer that too... for free.

Things like blankets & coats (especially during cold weather), clothing, personal hygiene items (including toilet paper, tampons/pads, deodorant, toothpaste, and other items), and non-perishable food items are ALWAYS WELCOME at any homeless shelter.

Most homeless people have psychological/drug/alcohol problems. They don't need your money, even if that's what they ask for. Instead, they need your help to become self-supporting.

Unfortunately, most "homeless shelters" offer ONLY overnight shelter (just a cot to sleep on, usually in a high-crime area) and/or a meal (aka "soup kitchen" ) . While it's a worthy endeavor to feed/shelter homeless people for the short-term, the long-term problem cannot be solved by feeding/sheltering them without providing additional services such as psychological/training services (to solve the underlying problem causing them to be homeless in the first place), employment training (to give them the tools to support themselves), employment search/placement services (to help them find/get a job), and clothing which is required for the job interview... and clothing required for the job itself.

Many/most religious institutions force homeless people to attend religious services... and the homeless people sit through them like trained animals waiting for a meal/shelter... similar to Pavlov's dog. These people are NOT dogs! In my opinion, this accomplishes nothing. It's OK to minister (by example, by deed, and by word) to these people without coercion of any kind. Coercion includes the promise of a meal/bed in return for listening to a religious service. It is not OK (in my personal opinion) to require adherence-to and/or profession-of-faith-in any religious principals, in order to receive shelter/food/clothing.

Those things, in my opinion, are a basic right of humanity. If a person arrived at my door who simply asked for food/water, clothing, and protection from the cold... I would give whatever I am able to give in order so that he/she doesn't die of starvation/dehydration/exposure. I wouldn't ask them to profess their faith in God/Jesus before I gave them a coat or food! Why do these homeless shelters to that?!?!

Sorry for my rant... but I have strong feelings about homeless shelters which provide food/shelter/clothing to homeless people (some with a requirement of religious service) especially when they don't provide any psychological services, job training, job placement services, or anything else. This is like expecting a 2-year-old child to rebuild an automobile engine without teaching him how to speak!

Don't get me wrong... I know that many seemingly homeless people abuse the charity of people, even if they are able to work. I'm not blind. Offer a meal to a person who is begging by the side of the road with a sign stating that they are hungry. If they refuse the food, but ask for money... you are probably dealing with a drunk/druggie/scammer.

I have personally given my coat to a homeless person on more than one occasion, given them phone numbers of the people they need to contact, and let them use my cell phone to call those people. I have also given them food. Early in my life, I gave money to seemingly homeless people, but I soon learned that they almost always use the money to buy alcohol or drugs. Your charity is much better used if you get them to the help that they actually NEED (as opposed to what they WANT at the moment).

First, make sure he isn't going to die of starvation, dehydration, or exposure to the elements. Then... direct him to a place where he can resolve his emotional/psychological/addiction/unemployment-training issues. Hopefully such a place exists in your area. If not, start one.

EDIT: My wife also pointed out that they can trade things you give them to other homeless people for things they want... like trading a coat for drugs or alcohol. So, be careful about that too... but definitely direct them to services which will help them to dig out of their problems. Additionally, if they really need to eat, drink or get warm... feed them, give them water, and help them stay warm (unless it's apparent that they will trade your blanket/coat for money/drugs/alcohol, of course).

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2014 03:46AM by barnabas1969.

I always give my arches food to homeless people after I've taken the requisite bites. And when I do the coffee shop ones and have to drink a million coffees in the same day, after a sip or two, I offer them to homeless people who look cold (hot coffee in winter) or hot (iced coffee in the summer).

I am glad the majority do not feel as you do... hope you are never in a position to need
assistance some day.....

holliscary Wrote:
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> I only ever do shops for charity.....ME

Yes, all of my unwanted stuff gets donated to the needy. Unfortunately, I can't give it away to friends, relatives or neighbors for fear of creating new, unwanted mystery shoppers.

My fast food and casual food is also given away to those in need after I neatly cut out and eat enough to satisfy the shop requirements. It is very fulfilling to do this...

@Katina: EEWWW!!!!!! Unless you CUT OUT your sample bite, and POUR OUT your sample sip, what you are doing is DISGUSTING and DEMEANING!!! No better than the fool in food prep who spits on the burger before giving it to the customer. Just buy them their own dollar burger, for cripe's sake!

Arch Stanton Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, all of my unwanted stuff gets donated to the
> needy. Unfortunately, I can't give it away to
> friends, relatives or neighbors for fear of
> creating new, unwanted mystery shoppers.
>
> My fast food and casual food is also given away to
> those in need after I neatly cut out and eat
> enough to satisfy the shop requirements. It is
> very fulfilling to do this...


That's why I pick out (when possible) and give the unwanted stuff to my grandma. She is 92 years old and doesn't drive anymore. Also, doesn't have (or want) a computer. There is no chance of her even thinking of becoming a mystery shopper. My sister and mom know I do mystery shopping (they would be the ones that my grandma would tell about the stuff she gets) and make fun of it thinking it is not worth their time (snobbery). That is fine with me for them to make fun of it while I keep making the money. LOL

Idevere,

Yes, I cut out what I only eat with a knife as you would with a slice of pie, and never bite into the portion being given away.

I don't drink soda and it gets chucked. I do clearly explain this to the homeless recipients, "I cut out out part of this for myself, you can have the rest". I am respectful of the less fortunate...

You know, I've thought the same thing about everyone who says they give their food to the homeless after taking their requisite bite... but have been too polite to mention it ~ until someone else brought it up.

I haven't given any of mine to the homeless, but only because I don't ever happen to see any between where ever the food place is, and my house. Some of you must be almost swarming in homeless people compared to around here, because unless I go way out of my way to where they hang out, I only see a couple of homeless people (or at least they're pretending to be ~ maybe I should say panhandler?) now and then at the freeway interchange, a major intersection, or the entrance/exit of a big shopping center. But it's certainly not a daily occurrence, sometimes not even weekly.

However, I do often give mine to my brother or nephews. (Or at least I did, I really cut back on those shops when I started having gallbladder issues.) I actually carried one of those heavy-duty plastic knives (like from the heavy-duty plastic flatware set from Costco) in my purse, in a ziploc bag. Like Arch said, I cut a pie-piece out (so I can taste not just the edge, but all the way to the middle!) of the burger and just eat three or four fries. Then wipe the knife off right away and back into the bag.

The drink, I'll usually keep one for me, and give any others to them, too. I take two cups (stacked together) and later in the car pour a little into the second cup to taste.

You know, one time several years ago now, I *did* see a homeless guy sitting on the sidewalk, against the building adjacent to where I'd just eaten out. This was before I was MS'ing, and I was eating out with a gift card I'd gotten for my b-day. I offered the guy my boxed up leftovers, but he didn't like fish.

Southern Texas IS almost swarming in homeless people. There is one on almost every feeder road intersection, sometimes two, on opposite corners. They are on downtown corners and at major in-town intersections. They patrol the parking lots of WalMart, Target, McDonald's, major grocery stores, anywhere people might make frequent quick trips and exit and enter their cars.

I constantly read with interest the posts of shoppers in other locations who offer the homeless their fast food after taking the requisite taste. The homeless in my city are either less hungry or more enlightened and suspicious than other locations. The homeless here want cash. In lieu of cash, they will accept food and drinks, but the food must be sealed, such as canned food, unopened packages, or never-opened jars. Beverages must be in cans or bottles, unopened. Fountain drinks and food in fast food wrappers is simply not on the acceptable list here.

I find it interesting that convenience store snacks are for the most part sugar and sugar and other forms of carbs. More sugar than fat. Lots of flavor enhancing ingredients and fillers to give the item some form and volume. There also must be some coloring ingredients added.
If you can buy a bananna or an apple from time to time you will have something that can potentially help some one to live with some degree of positive health.
Otherwise, who is bulshting whom?
I worked in the food industry for a real long time and have studied nutrition for a good long while. There are many camps on what is and what isn't good for you. Vegan, Atkins diet, sugar free, fat free, no hamburgers, meat only, and on and on. Different assertive strokes for different equally convinced folks.
Being deluded into thinking that throwing a sinking person a bag of creme filled cupcakes is helping that individual is absolute absurdity in it's most perverse form.
Do you think that at least giving a needful person something no matter what the consequences of that person partaking of that gift makes your giving a commendable act?
Can an act of giving have undesirable results?
Can you say what you got to say?

I have yet to see a homeless person anywhere in my area. Most towns around here have ordinances against panhandling. However, when I lived in Florida for a few years we often gave bottled water and fruit to the homeless we would see outside. This was actually my kids' idea and makes me proud to think as teens they were thinking of others.

I used to do shops at the local airport and purchase stuffed animals. Then, every year at Christmas, I would find a charity or children's hospital and donate all of them! Made me feel great!

Judy

> Being deluded into thinking that throwing a
> sinking person a bag of creme filled cupcakes is
> helping that individual is absolute absurdity in
> it's most perverse form.
> Do you think that at least giving a needful person
> something no matter what the consequences of that
> person partaking of that gift makes your giving a
> commendable act?
> Can an act of giving have undesirable results?
> Can you say what you got to say?

I can say this for sure. If a person is really hungry, a bag of crème filled cupcakes will be welcomed. The truly hungry will eat whatever they can get. If a shopper donates a bag of crème filled cupcakes to a hungry person, I see that as a commendable act. If you don't, that's your opinion. Yes, I can say what I got to say.

I agree with MDN. That sounded a whole lot like if we can't fee them healthy food they should just starve to death to me.