Spring Rummage Sale/Fall Craft Fair are Great Avenues for Fund Raisers

This idea comes from a former music director of the Ottumwa First Presbyterian Church, Gail Masinda.
In these days of tight budgets, being good stewards of our resources is more important than ever. My husband John and I are exhibiting/selling our photography at art shows (www.AsWeSeeNature.com), and apparently others in the area know about us. I received an e-mail from a local church asking if we would be interested in their craft fair. They open up their facilities (could be a fellowship hall, a gym, etc.) to crafters and home businesses (Avon, Scentsy, etc.) and ‘rent’ tables at $15 for an 8 ft. table (plus the area behind the table, about 4 ft. deep). The ‘show’ runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ladies of the church serve lunch (as a fund raiser) to the public. There will be a bake sale as well. All proceeds from the food they sell and the table rental goes towards youth and mission projects. All proceeds from goods sold by each vendor goes to that vendor. Each vendor is asked (as an option) to donate an item for door prizes.
Another area church does a similar thing, but their fund raiser is an outdoor rummage sale. 10'x10' spaces are ‘rented’ on the church grounds and each person brings whatever rummage sale type items they want to sell. Again, the proceeds from the space rental goes toward church.
In both of these examples, the person renting the space is responsible for the setup, display, and tear down of their space. The costs to the church are minimal, since overhead has to be paid whether the facilities are being used or not. Advertising of the event is done by the hosting church. Spaces are available to church members and non-members.
The church raises dollars through space rental and food sales. They gain local recognition from their advertising. People who may have never been to the church before now know where it is. Greeters can be powerful witnesses to hospitality, openness and acceptance. All of this from using resources already owned by the church. Now that’s good stewardship!

Dont' Forget Spring Clean-up at Cottage Grove Avenue Church

Celebrate spring by helping our Sudanese neighbors at Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church with some Spring Cleaning!

The church has just come through a very cold winter without heat for much of the time, but a new boiler has recently been installed. Now, they are ready to begin sprucing up their beautiful building, but they could use some help. As good neighbors, you can organize a group from your church and come to Cottage Grove Avenue Church to help with Spring Cleaning! Details Below:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

• Up to 20 workers – youth and/or adults


• 1 supervisor/coordinator from your church

TASKS INCLUDE:

• Clean out and throw out trash/debris from various rooms in the church. (Includes sorting and carrying items upstairs/downstairs to an outside dumpster.)


• Sort books and items for future rummage sale.


• Sweep and clean up rooms after items have been removed.

DATE/TIME/LOCATION:
Pick a Saturday morning this spring from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Options include:

• April 24, 2010


• May 1, 2010


• May 8, 2010 (CANCELLED)

Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1050 24th St., Des Moines. Park in the north parking lot of Cottage Grove Avenue Church and enter the north doors.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Work gloves


• Brooms and dustpans


• Hefty garbage bags

FUN PERKS:

• Free lunch, Pizza and pop provided


• Great exercise and a sense of accomplishment!

SIGN-UP INSTRUCTIONS:
E-mail Ginny Hancock at ginnyvah@aol.com with the date you want to reserve from the options listed above. In the e-mail, please note your church name, contact person, contact information (e-mail and phone) and number of participants. Your date will be confirmed within a week of your request.

THANK YOU!