We have a charity drive each year, for the United Way. Seems to run pretty well for us. Company sponsors a cookout with pop, brats, beans, etc. Vegetarian dishes too. After lunch, the president spends a half hour getting everyone in a donating mood. Over the rest of the week there's various events like a silent auction where suppliers have donated goods, goldfish races, and the like. You get a form to fill out regarding paycheck donations. You can donate nothing or as high as you wish, only the HR person knows - when they set it up on the next paycheck run.

There's also a day picked aside for getting volunteers to help out at a local event - one year we set up a playground at the neighborhood YMCA, another year we cleaned up some sort of campground for cancer kids (I know there's a better description in me somewhere). You can go help out or stay at work, either way you get a day's pay.

We have a tough crowd at work, but running things this way seems to make everyone either happy or at least tolerable. No one really has room for complaining. You can help without having to donate money, and if you do donate, only one person knows what amount.

Anyhow, the girl running around with the list at your place really does need a beating.