This may seem too simple, but here goes:

What about a garage or rummage sale? This can be done in so many ways. The PTO could ask for donations from school families (used clothing, used books, used furniture, etc.). Put everything in a donated storage locker (or someone's garage if they have the room). Right now is a great time to ask for clothing and stuff. Do the collecting for about 6 weeks. Then have the kids who are trying to earn their way come work the event. Do it for 2 or 3 weekends. Shoot, even if you just get fifty cents a piece for clothing, you should still be able to raise a few thousand dollars... At the end of the sale, donate whatever is left to the nearest domestic violence shelter and divvy up the funds between the kids who worked hawking the goods as it were...

Well, whatever you do, Good Luck!

I ran into a Mom last year who's daughter was in the People-to-People program. It was a soccer exchange to Germany.

She organized an auction (donated prizes). She also participated in a community rummage sale and sold donated items.

I've also seen where kids will do a mailing and send a very nice letter to Foundations and corporations (but foundations have giving guidelines - like you have to be a 501(c)3 organization).

It's frustrating, espec. when you have to raise THOUSANDS in such a short period of time.

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A friend from church had their son invited to go to Australia last year through People-To-People. ( [img]smile.gif[/img] Ask me privately for my rant about taking them to a rugby game instead of a Sydney Swans Australian Rules Football game [img]smile.gif[/img] )

A couple of the local grocery chains offered a coupon book fundraiser. I'm not sure if the books cost him anything, but they sell for $5 and contain a variety of special product offers plus a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $50+.

I've been thinking about this too as my oldest daughter wants to attend an outdoor educational camping trip in he spring. Her class sold candy bars but she sold (well I bought) one box as Dad just started a new job which didn't allow him to sell the candy bars in the break room. So I'm here scratching my head too. The numbers painted on the street is already done by the city for us besides I really don't think I could send my daughter out to do that.

See what happens...

There was a student in our neighborhood that was painting numbers as well and he left a flyer stating the kinds of odd jobs he would do after school and on weekends. Then before the deadline we all saw how hard he had worked and pitched in extra money for him. His mother had 2 bake sales at a local store. The newspaper did a story and let the community know he was available for small jobs. I was proud of him because you could tell that he was a person willing to put out 100%. At the end his father employer & co-workers matched the difference needed to pay the balance.

I had a high school student who was raisng money to go onto state offer to paint address numbers on the curb in front of my house for $10. I took him up on the offer and the numbers still look good. He used stencils and spray paint. I liked the fact that he was willing to do a little bit of work for the money instead of just asking for a handout. Also this lets people know exactly where we are located in case of an emergency, etc.