With the economy as sloppy as it is, everybody from the soccer team to the ballet school is trying to drum up cash for equipment, uniforms, and other stuff the regular fees don't cover. They need our money or their programs will fall to pieces and all of our kids will suffer. But who has extra cash for peanut brittle and overpriced holiday wrapping paper? 

And who wants to hit up her equally broke neighbors and coworkers? For sure, if you don't want to buy or sell the stuff, you don't have to. But you can help out in other ways: Maybe offer to pass out the goods when the orders come in. Or coordinate a less intrusive fund-raiser -- like, say, a team car wash or a lunchtime bake sale at school. And if you don't have time for that, just make a small cash donation. The point is to be helpful. Our kids deserve that much.

Got a sticky Q? Ask Denene Millner at Parenting.com/momsquad.

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