Maybe a Penny Drive. You'd be surprised how much you can raise just collecting pennies. Then offer a prize for the class that raises the most. One of the favorite (and cheap) prizes at our school was a Doughnut Party for the winning class. A Popsicle Party is also very inexpensive and fun for the kids.
A few years ago we had a spaghetti dinner and silent auction for a student with cancer. We got community donations for the food. We collected pennies in the classrooms. Our principal shaved her head when we met our fundraising goal. That motivated students and teachers too.
Any recommendations for a fundraiser for a family with Muscular Dystrophy? I do our school's annual Oktoberfest but when it comes to fundraising for an individual without a 501 nonprofit number it is more difficult. I suppose the best way is to be personal and pull at their heart strings.
I'm sure we are not the only school that has tried to help a family so thoughts are appreciated. We are having a construction fundraiser in August and a project meeting this weekend. We are using the youcaring.com site for online donations, have an email and a Facebook page. We are advertising it to the local schools and utilizing the local paper.