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[Image]When you conduct a fundraiser for your school lunch program, you are sending a message to your volunteers, your supporters, and to your community. That message contains a values statement about your school. Your fundraising message should be: · Consistent with your school wellness policy o i.e., no candy or pop sales, promoting physical activity · Consistent with a responsible marketing policy o i.e., no cartoon characters or corporate brands · Supporting "community tie-ins", not "corporate tie-ins" o i.e., get involved with your community, not large corporations that are not locally based. Often corporate involvement is viewed as philanthropy, but it is 100% profit driven. · Supportive of the environment whenever possible o i.e., don't waste limited resources (water) or create waste. Fundraising ideas for your school: Establish fundraisers involving local food and food-themed merchandise. Host Harvest Lunches and sell tickets to the entire community Publish recipe cards and cookbook from the school lunch program, encouraging families to eat nutritious meals at home. Publish a school calendar with recipes, food purchasing tips, and food safety tips. Sell fruit and vegetable themed note cards, postcards, tote bags promoting your school lunch program. Sell locally grown flowers for Easter, Mother's Day, Christmas. Sell heirloom bulbs and unique plants to gardeners each fall. Sell items that promote physical activity such as kites, hula hoops, jump ropes, packages of seeds, window box herb garden kits A Dance Marathon is another kid-friendly, physical activity event. Profits are generated from ticket sales and local food "heart-healthy" concessions. Have an "earth-friendly" fundraiser. Organizing a community cleanup project, is another physical activity based fundraiser that sends a positive message at the same time. Participants pledge dollars per pound. Host a weekend specialty sale of a seasonal item. Examples would be a Pumpkin Patch sale, a Christmas Tree sale, a Spring Flower Bulb Day. Host a Pancake Breakfast fundraiser at your school cafeteria, serving healthy beverages and fresh fruit toppings for the pancakes. Another idea is to collaborate with like-minded community members for creative fundraising efforts. Utilize their resources and membership base to promote your school lunch program. Consider contacting your: Local food co-op's education and outreach department. Co-host a fundraising event and invite the food co-op's membership. Local farmers market Conduct school food/chef demos using local produce at the farmers market. Hold a raffle during the school food demos. Locally owned independent restaurants Organize a theme night where local restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds to your school lunch program Downtown Business Authority or your local business association Ask for your school lunch program to be the recipient of their charitable event