Agent 3 complains of being roused from his Saturday siesta by a knock at the door from a teenage boy who said he was "from Help Kids Canada". He was peddling chocolate bars (since the Girl Scouts have the monopoly on cookies) and suggested that Agent 3 was a bad bastard for not supporting this worthy charity.
Agent 3, being something of a cynic [When he's cooking, is he a kitchen cynic? ed.] asked the boy if he could prove that Help Kids Canada is in fact a registered charity. The boy appealed to his "supervisor", who just happened to be driving by in a white van, who said yes, it is so, and here's the registration number if anyone wanted to see it.
Now munching on his chocolate bar, Agent 3 asks Walt if this is true, and why a reputable charity would be selling candy bars door to door. Here is what Walt found out.
Help Kids Canada is a registered charity. Where the kid and his supervisor lie is when they say that they represent or work for HKC. They do not. Here is the truth of the relationship between the chocolate sellers and the charity, as disclosed on the latter's website.
The supervisors and the kids who are selling chocolates are not employed by our organization.Their connection to our charity is that they support our organization by donating the net proceeds from the chocolate sales to Help Kids Canada. By "net proceeds" we mean what is left after the cost of chocolates and the cost of distribution, including the cost of transportation, personal expenses and payments to the kids, are deducted from their gross proceeds.
So there you have it. Those poor scrawny kids who knock at your door are being paid, but the people really making the money are their supervisors. (Agent 3 says the gal in the van was absolutely porcine.) It's very much a for-profit business. If there happens to be anything left, they give a little to the charity, and get a tax receipt for so doing.
It's a nice cozy arrangement for all concerned...except Agent 3 and others who get conned into paying a high price for a rather mediocre chocolate bar, all because they thought they were helping some poor kids.
Guess I wasn't the only one who was scammed! Never wanting to assume a kid would lie about raising money to help someone out I doled out $5 for the half empty box of chocolate covered nuts ($4 but I said keep the change. Deep down I was suspicious and thought this may be another charity where the "executive" on top is taking home a 6 figure income. As the girl and her friend continued down the street asking other neighbours I did see a "white" van come shortly after to pick up the girls. I did catch the name of the charity so I could check online if it was a scam or not ....and I guess I should have gone with my instincts!!!
ReplyDeleteMy concern is lack of supervision for these young children. They are being left alone in a Tim Horton's near my house selling these chocolates. I have witnessed them selling even in bad weather. I understand that this may be a teaching tool for children to understand charities and helping others but I am hoping they are not being taken advantage of.
DeleteI know the charity is reputable and the people involved included the teens selling chocolates are doing a great thing.
ReplyDeleteAs a former teen 'pedler' I know it has taught me alot of character and about the real world. Its not an easy one but buts a great experience. I bought their chocolate bars knowing I would rather have that teen going around fundraising rather smoking up behind a corner store or school park. I have looked up their website and its www.helpkidscanada.ca
Not every one has to like it, but we shouldn't hate these poor hard working kids and their managers who take time away from their families to help for such a worthwhile cause.
my son worked for this place and hes 13yrs old, I get a call from the police tonight to come to the seen where the boss is being arrested and its a fraud, so I fly down there come to find out my son threw up from being in the heat and she made him walk 30min to meet with other kids and when he got there he got sick so another kid called the boss who was dropping other kids off at other locations and she said tell him to wait at mcdonalds and we will beback to get him, well the kids in the car like my son and said we cant just leave him there so she said aww he doesn't want to make money, lets go so the kids said no I want out to check on him so she wouldn't stop so 2 of them jumped out and the other one followed but his hand was stuck in the van door as its closing and she still didn't stop so he was dragged and TD employees witnessed this and called police, so they arrested her as she had 10 kids plus her, not enough seat belts, no water except the drinks I send for my son which he was told to leave it in the car or he cant fit chocolate in into his bag, so the charity is legal but her part is not, she says shes collecting for these shelters, kids etc.. but the police say no she keeps it all, theres more I should find out, but the kid that got stuck in the door, his hand was broken and bent inwards and she did not call for any help, so im think some kind of neglect charges, seat belt, other kids that wanted to go home yesterday she said no and they can get home them selfs, from Mississauga to Scarborough by bus with kids who have no clue how to get home, this women has to be stopped, she goes by Anna, she even gave me her licence and copys of police report etc,, I never thought my sons first job would turn out this way
DeleteRead the website carefully. Help Kids Canada ONLY gets a donation IF there's any money left over after the little pedlars AND their "Fagins" AND all expenses have been paid. And the charity is quite clear that neither the kids nor the managers work directly for the charity.
ReplyDeleteMy Mother is 83 year old and doesn't speak english. She told me "I bought some chocolates" I said from where. "a boy knocked on the door" I asked how much were they, "$5.00" what, for a small box of chocolate coated almonds. I can see speding $4.00 for Girl Guide Cookies, but for the chocolates... I know it is nice for children to have extra spending money, but with these businesses selling for a so call charity, the kids only make about a $1.00 per box I think. I told my mother too never open the door to anyone she doesn't know.... Guess it did't work, lol!
ReplyDeleteI was one of those kids WAAY back in the day.... And at the time, I didn't even realize it was a scam I was participating in. However, I was 13 and homeless at the time and it was better than getting into some other things for money.
ReplyDeleteFunny that this comment from Anonymous should come in today. Had a phone call from Agent 3 just a couple of hours ago to say that another group of three waifs was working his neighbourhood.
ReplyDeleteYou might be interested to know that Help Kids Canada is a division of Kare for Kids who have had more than accusation against them for fraud and scams. Look them up. Maybe that's why they have to operate under a different name sometimes.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the kids that are selling this stuff (or standing around with tins) that are knowingly misrepresenting themselves iit's the organizers, they should be ashamed of themselves.
I was just doing some research on this as my 12 year old daughter came home with the phone number and several off her friends are selling the chocolate bars I meet with the supervisor and felt very leary of some of his answers He drops these girls off in front of malls and they are by themselves unsupervised. I found this very strange that young girls are left alone in differnt cities in our area. To me this is unaceptable and can't understand parents letting there children do this. They should be stopped
ReplyDeleteI just got home from grocery shopping. It's 7:00pm, dark, and cold. As I left the store there was an adorable little boy, maybe 4 years old, selling chocolate bars. He was wearing a 'Help Kids Canada' card around his neck. A young man was lurking behind him, as the sweet little child asked me if I wanted to buy chocolates. I didn't buy them, but it bothered me more and more as I drove home. I called the grocery store and told the Manager about it. He will go out to talk to the 'adult'. I can't get that sweet little face out of my mind - I am so angry!! That scum is exploiting that little guy, to line his own pocket. I'm not letting this go - I'll figure out whom to report this to.
ReplyDeletewhere was this
ReplyDeleteI am a 14year old boy selling chocolates for HKC and my manager is great, she brings us bowling, laser quest, movies, wonderland
ReplyDeleteshe gives us bonus for doing good in school, not smoking, doing drugs. She keeps us out of trouble. Remember we want to sell chocolate, were not forced to sell chocolate. So please focus on other things. HKC changed my life in a good way
Remember buy a chocolate
Thanks H K C
I was blown away wen i learned about this!! A friends daughter was doing so called job to hv a bit more spendinh money but the supervisors make them go out in the cold for eight hrs before they bring the kids home and in the end they make about a buck an hour! No time for homework...arent there laws about this even if its for a so called charity!!! They yell at thr kids wen they dnt sell enough and wnt let them bak into the van when its cold! This is unacceptable and would love to find out more info about how to stop this!
ReplyDeleteI can tell you first hand that none of the money goes to charity. When I tried my hand at being a manager for Rob, he sold me bars for $1.10 and chocolate covered almonds for $1.25. It was simple, he provided me id tags and sold me cases of chocolate. I paid the children $1 per bar sold, and $1.50 for every almond box sold. I got to keep the rest. No receipts given when I bought the cases, cash only was accepted. When it was discovered that I paid the kids $1.50 for Almond sales, I got into trouble and was told to only pay them a dollar. This guy lives in a very expensive house and has three vehicles, one being a brand new Mustang, another an Edge, and a very nice GMC. He always told me to hire foreign kids and get in good with the parents. Why? because most of these parents will punish the kids if they don't sell at least 100 bars on a Saturday. Just stop and ask these kids who they work for, if it is Rob, ask the how many they have to sell in order to not be fired. The answer will disgust you. I gave it up because I was expected to put the pressure on these kids, and I don't agree with that. I was not screened in any way, shape or form to become a manager. Most of the time I picked up my order in parking lots throughout the city. Was told that if a kid was under twelve and wanted to work, I needed to get the parent or guardian to fill out the application form with a falsified date of birth. SOME CHILDREN mostly from other countries ARE BEING EXPLOITED BY THIS MAN to finance his lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteJuly 18,2012
DeleteThey got me, too. Two very cute little girls at the door, mother with a baby in stroller at the street. I wonder how much they are getting. Is there any way those selling could be unaware that this is a scam?
Kitchener, Ontario
I'm in Kitchener as well and probably just had the exact same two little girls and mom with stroller in the background. Bought two bars and decided to checkout this charity. This is a shame.
DeleteYeah, I'm in Kitchener too. Just met the same girl and the mother in the background with 3 kids in the stroller. I used to do this job when I was 16 and living on my own. I realized then it was a scam and quit, but I have no way of knowing if this mother is doing this as a necessary way to supplement her low income, or if she is part of the scam, or if she even realizes yet that she and her kids are being taken advantage of. I bought one chocolate out of good faith that hopefully she just just really needed the help to make ends meet, but it is the one and only time I will ever make a purchase like this because the scam is a vicious cycle lining the pockets of others under false pretenses.
ReplyDeleteThese two cute, dirty haired girls just left my house in the Stanley Park area of Kitchener at 8:45p.m. on a school night! This is not the first time they have sold me chocolate. I felt bad for them but became suspicious that something more was going on when they were arguing about which one got to keep the money. They also asked me if they could use my washroom which I did not allow. I felt mean not letting them in if they really had to go, but on the other hand, I have a house full of teenage boys and didn't feel it was appropriate for little girls to use my washroom unaccompanied by their mother. Mom was on the sidewalk with two younger children in a stroller. I won't be purchasing chocolates from them next time.
ReplyDeleteI worked 4 help kids Canada for about two years. its a great job. not only do u
ReplyDeletemake money but u also win prizes, go to the movies, wondeeland etc and you also learn the business of sales and math skills improve greatly! if I did't work for that charity, I would not have been able to pay for my university. oh and my supervisor does not leave kids alone, there is usually a partner selling with hem somewhere else. even if it was a scam, at the end of the day, the kids make money, the supervisor makes.money and the customers get a chocolate. it just improved the economy.
My daughter, grand daughter and 2 nieces sell chocolates for this charity and it is the best thing going, to help kids stay off the streets and from getting in trouble. My husband and I know our daughter's supervisor very well, and we know he gives money to the charity. Plus it helps children develop social skills these days, cause some parents don't take the time or have time(cause they work) to teach their children proper social skills hence why there are so many on drugs or drinking at such young ages. This helps those parents, when my daughter makes her money it makes her feel good, and she knows if she wants that Ipod, cell phone or make-up she can save for it:) There are some supervisors that actually do care for these children, isn't that what this Charity its self is all about anyways. So it sounds to me that the person who started this has nothing better to do, then sit around and complain about everything. I bet you sit around and complain about all the kids on the streets and how disrespectful kids now a days are, well at least I know my daughter, step-grand daughter and 2 nieces aren't those disrespectful street kids you probably take about as well.
ReplyDeleteEverybody! I was the guy who was selling the chocolates when this happened! I, hereby, give permission to have my name posted on this website. I am Dustin Louie, and I remember this all. The chocolate almonds were 4 or two for 6 and the chocolate bars were 3 two for five. The thing we were supposed to say is, "Hi, I'm with Help Kids Canada. Would you like to purchase one of our products to support sick children across the country?
ReplyDeleteGood to see this thread coming up again. As kids go back to school, pretty soon there'll be kids on your doorstep selling chocolate bars "to help their school". Before you buy, ask them WHICH school, and ask to see their student card or some proof that they actually go to a local school. Selling these things can be a legitimate fundraiser, but Help Kids and similar scammers are still out there!
ReplyDeleteWas at a strip mall today at Lawson and Port Union Road in Scarborough. Teenage girl asked me to buy chocolate almonds in support of Help Kids Canada. I spoke to her at length about what a scam the whole program is, but she insisted she felt she was doing a good thing for charity. Sad how these vultures prey on the naivety of these kids.
ReplyDeleteJust bought into this scam too at Victoria Terrace, Scarborough in front of the CIBC. Be careful
ReplyDeleteWhy are you so angry on those kids? Jealous? If you don't like the idea - don't buy it! What's the problem? The greatest thing is that those kids are working really hard instead of playing computer games, like my 11-year old son, just because there are very few opportunity for them to make money. Also that's a great experience, they become more confident, responsible, they have to show up on time, to do the team work, to help each other; I believe it will help them in the future to find a job through interconnections, for example, or start their own business... I remember myself in that age - I was extremely shy, and there wasn't program like this to help me. a scam or half a scam? to be or not to be? ... Funny! Well, if adults make money on those kids - that's on their conscience.
ReplyDeleteWalt has nothing against the kids. My beef is with the adults exploiting the kids. If your 11-year-old son was a girl, would you let her approach and solicit strange men?
ReplyDeleteSo according to the CRA website kare for kids licence has been revoked. My nephew sells chocolates for help kids Canada ....if the charity they were working for is closed where are the proceeds going?? I asked what percentage do they take from his hard work he told me 75 percent!!?!!! Unbelievable...he is out there working his butt off for what?? There needs to be an investigation done. The website that he provided me with www.helpkidscanada.ca does not exist.
ReplyDeleteYep, www.helpkidscanada.ca is for sale. What happened to the alleged charity is a mystery. If someone's using that name, it could be fraud. If someone approaches you to donate, get as much information as you can and report it to your local police.
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ReplyDeleteI may be wrong but the same address and number belong to Disabled Veteran Support Canada. Being a veteran we strongly believe this is a scam organization. They are set up in ontario but set tables at Sobeys. Walmart, etc in other provinces (New brunswick and Nova Scotia)
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous, I suggest you send this information to an investigative journalist for follow-up. CBC-TV's Marketplace might be a good place to start.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSurprised to see that this thread is still being looked at, more than 7 years after I put it up. If anyone has some recent experiences with these scammers, please post them in the comments box here.
ReplyDeleteI saw a kid selling chocolate bars in front of a bank in the big plaza besides Highway 401 at Kennedy in Scarborough. Of course, I bought from him and saw his Help Kids Canada tag and then I found this after I googled.
ReplyDelete