After discussion among and between the PAW Board of Directors, we have decided to remove Addendum Rule 5 . . .

5. [REDACTED] You may ask for help on ONLY ONE help site. There are many others similar to PAW.org, such as Helping Hands of Cambria/Somerset, Friendly Neighbors, and many others with whom we coordinate and communicate. If you are found to have posted on another site(s), you will be given the option to pick which site you want to keep your Wish on. This also applies to asking for the same items on Freecycle and flea market sites.

Pick-a-Wish Christmas 2020 Rules & Guidelines

We’ve taken this action for a couple of reasons. One, we’re in the middle of a once-a-century pandemic and many people who normally would not be in need ARE in need this year, due to layoffs, mandates, etc., through no fault of their own. Many businesses have been forced to close or severely curtail their operations with reduced hours, and this trickles down to workers’ reduced paychecks. Addendum Rule 5, “The One-Site Rule,” really serves no purpose other than to severely limit the chances of Wishers’ being Granted. We think the more sites they’re on, the higher the chances of being Granted, which is the very reason we are here — to get as many wishes granted as possible, whether from our site, or any other site. We will rejoice either way because someone’s Wish was granted.

Secondly, this is not a business, competition, or zero-sum game. This is charity and generosity, ideally without limits. So it doesn’t make sense to only allow the Wishers to ask for help in one place. It’s sort of like God having a rule that you can only seek help from one church. Or like a preacher who tells someone they can’t come into their church because they’re Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, or Buddhist. I’m sure God would welcome ALL of them.

We will no longer remove Wishes or Wishers for posting on more than one site. We WILL however still deal with the usual schemers and scammers, liars, and resellers in a harsh manner. However, merely posting on more than one site will no longer be defined as a “scam,” “scheme,” or in any way dishonest. On Pick-a-Wish, as long as you’re honestly and sincerely in need of help, and are truthful in your household composition, we have no problem if you post on multiple sites.

This new policy applies ONLY to Pick-a-Wish, as we have no control over other sites’ rules. We WILL, however continue to coordinate with other help and flea market sites to weed out schemers, scammers, liars, and resellers.

Thanks!