Towards the end of last year, I wrote about how, because I contribute to two or three charities, I was being inundated with mail from other causes. I was particularly annoyed with the "here's a gift for YOU" approach. A couple of weeks ago, I was sent a pair of children's socks with a plea to send them, plus donation, back to the kids' charity involved. Today, I received a set of prayer beads and crucifix (complete with Christ) so that I could pray for children with leprosy while sending them my direct debit details. This whole new, hardline approach by charities is in grave danger of backfiring. I hate to admit it, but more and more of these requests are ending up, unopened, in my bin.
