for fundrasing. Since we (at work) are a not for profit inc. (meal program for the homeless and indigent) we decided years ago to NOT rely on any sort of govt. funding for obvious and not so obvious reasons. We have had private benefactors who have passed on, relied on grants and are invloved with The Harvest Program so we receive daily donations of food from local supermarkets and restaurants. We pay rent to the church (440.) and 1/2 the elctric bill (8 freezers and 4 frig). We give out bus passes for medical and job potentials, clothing vouchers to the LDS thrift store, hygiene packs, socks and donations of clothing and shoes. We also will give out emergency food boxes with enough food to last 3-5 days- including meats, eggs and etc. The person who wrote the grants for our biggest assist passed on late 08 so last year no one realized the grant had not been applied for. (Most of the board is over 60). The main thing we have to buy is paper goods (plates, bowls, utensils) and cleaning supplies. We feed anywhere from 60-95 any given day. For the day we are closed we give out a good lunch, and extras to help them survive. many who come to eat with us eat only that one time a day. We serve a full course meal, will take food to disabled if nearby and give our takeouts to those who cannot get there. We rarely turn anyone away and have been in exiostance for almost 14 years.
Nopw we have been informed that we have about 3 months of resources left ..October is coming. We just receievd 1000. for a Christmas in July from a church that does that every year along with canned goods.\
I am asking if anyone has any good fund raising ideas? We've come up with a rummage sale, which for the church made almost 4,000 last spring. Anything will be be considered, and since ya'll are from all over the country am hoping to get some inspiration and ideas that have worked. Thank you. BTW, we have only 2 pt employees, me- the manager of the whole thing (who straightened and cleaned up the failing program a year and 1/2 ago-and am making 1/2 of minimum wage by the hrs put in) and a am person for deliveries.
Anybody? This is to help serve those who have lost alot,only about 15% of our crowd are addicts...most think all who are that way is because of drugs/alcohol/gambling but it really isn't true.
Thank you, the thanks and rewards of helping others are intrinsic and more satisfying than anything else, for I really seriously beleive we are put here in a major way to help each other.

First off, well done on serving such a good cause. Have you tried cake sales? You could enlist the help of your local radio station to advertise your event, send out flyers asking for people to donate cakes for your cake sale.

Do you have a recycling scheme where the company actually pay for the goods you recycle? I know of companies in the UK that would buy used aluminum cans, old clothing and bottles.

Ask local bands to support you by offering their services to help you hold a concert, do you already have the use of the church hall? Then use that as the concert venue or you could ask the local authority for the use of one of their parks.

Seek the help of printing companies to print flyers for your concert. Hold knitting circles and sell the items at your rummage sales.

Bikers are good people to help out in 'causes' I know of one such group here in the UK who help out in the soup kitchens on a regular basis, they help raise funds by holding pool nights, players pay to enter the competition, they know there is no prize at the end but happily pay to be part of doing something for their community. They also take children for rides to the sea side on designated bank holidays.

Your local school should also be a source you could tap into, the children in our school recycle anthing that could be sold to raise money for the soup kitchen, we now have a haualge company involved in transporting the collection to the depot for recycling.

On Sunday 25th July we held a sponsored dog walk, the local radio station advertised the event, we had a very large turn out and raised about £250. We aim to have another event soon, we are not sure what, it is in the planning stages. The Sunday before that our school opened the car park for a car boot (rummage) sale. We sent out flyers and again had the help of the local radio station and local newspapers to advertise for us.

We aim to apply for a lottery grant to add to our coffers, if we are successful we could recieve up to £30.000. This would enable us to revamp an old scout hut as our permanent headquarters.


We have had suggestions of 'nappy nights' - a disco on a weekly basis for under 15's. A DJ has offered to play on those nights, no alcohol will be served and the kids will get the opportunity to meet up with their friends in a social setting.

In the past we have held Caribbean, Indian, Italian and Mexican nights, we cooked foods from those countries and sold it, sadly the hall we used is no longer there, it has been flattened to make way for a car park for a supermarket.

Send out 'begging' letters to store owners and businesses, you will be amazed at the amount of help out there and the amount of people who will be happy to know they are making a difference to someone's life.

Forgot to add; ask around for more volunteers. Good luck in your venture.

I don't know if your orgnaization has a website or not, but I would be glad to host a website for them if they don't already have one. You can set up a PayPal account and accept donations online and by phone via PayPal. Just an idea.

Selling candy bars is another idea. I think you can get a case of like 40 for $20 and sell them at $1 a bar.

Shasta, I always knew you had substance. Now I can see why and I really do admire you for the work you do.

Both suggestions above are quite good, and I don't know if I can still say something they haven't already mentioned. I guess, just to reiterate, yep, there are a lot of organizations that are willing, and sometimes even looking, to help causes like yours. Advertise what you do and what you need. Ask the church to announce your cause after every mass. We sometimes have that done, place someone with a donation box beside the exit, so that after mass, people can go directly and donate or offer help.

Seek out church sponsorship, or agencies that support projects like yours...United way........Coalition for the Homeless......

Our church 'tithes' ten percent to the community in which we live.
We support other groups like the homeless shelter, food bank, animal shelter.

Boony, thank you for all the great ideas, this is jsut what was needing! Will take all and do the work to seewhats most doable.

Totage- you may have something there, am not up on the web stuff too much. Can I contact you later- may not be today?

yes, we have a basket for donations, but are a po' little church.
Been toying with the ad stuff, YOU are the sweet one, and admire you.

THANK you MM, Didn't think of those. Usually am soo tired from work and heat that can't, literally. Sometimes get home from work and want to lay down on the floor becasue it feels like we weren't meant to stand for so long .
Excellent places to tap, will do searching this wkend.

Hey Shasta .... I've been involved with non profit arts groups for a long time and one thing we do is have an annual art aution where we let artists donate work completely or for a 50/50 split ... whichever they feel comfortable doing.

it helps us and helps the local artists.

I like the benefit cocert idea too ... friends in bands have done that for various reasons over the years and its always fun.

the old car wash idea is possible if you can con some of your kids to get involved ... especially younger girls ... they seem to attract more business ... lol

good luck.

Go to the Bikers...organize a ride. Its amazing how they get behind charity work. The rides were always my best fund raisers.

Sure, contact me anytime. I'd be glad to help.

Make a page on Face Book to promote your charity, I am sure Totage will help you with putting an 'Add Me' button (from your web site that he will help you make) on your page.