Feelgood School Fundraisers

Whether or not you have kids, chances are that someone has hit you up recently to buy candy, wrapping paper, or coffee to raise funds for a school. I don't know about you, but I get bummed out spending my money on things I don't want or need. However, I often find myself purchasing (and even selling) these items out of a desire to help the school. Considering all of the recent cuts to Memphis City Schools, I'm sure I'm not alone.

I wish that schools could raise funds by selling more useful items. After doing a little research, I found that there are a couple of companies offering Compact Fluorescent Light bulb (CFL) fundraisers. Considering that incandescent light bulbs are being phased out, I think that CFL fundraisers are a perfect way to raise money and awareness.

My School Lights has a very extensive collection of bulbs for sale and includes an educational component that offers information and ideas to help children understand where energy comes from, how we use it, and the effects on the environment. Best of all, MSL handles all of the money and product distribution.

In addition to CFLs, One Planet Fundraising offers a reusable water bottle and cloth shopping bag campaign. Greenraising and Grow Kids also offer a host of earth-friendly products.

Chico Bag, a reusable bag that can be folded into itself and put in a purse or pocket, offers school fundraisers that allow the school to keep 50% of profits. It also has an educational component that focuses on the effect of plastic bags on the environment. (Chico Bags has a zero waste component as well--unused/worn out bags can be mailed back to the company who in turn will either donate them to a needy family or have them recycled into rugs.)

Chico Bags has had a lot of success with its program. I especially like the example below:

“…students, faculty, parents and guests were reminded of the importance of planting trees, bettering the environment and taking care of our fragile planet. But this year, students didn’t stop there. They also lined up to show just how big a problem plastic bags can be!

… the students collected plastic bags at home for one week. Students tied the bags end to end to form an immense chain. After the chain was rolled into a huge ball to demonstrate how much room the bags would take up in a landfill, students walked the chain around the campus to see just how much plastic is wasted in one week! They circled the campus nine times!

To do their part to save the planet, students have teamed up with ChicoBags, to sell reusable nylon bags that fit into their own pouch so that they can be carried with you at all times.”

Mrs. Toni Napier, Vice Principal - Our Lady Refuge School of Long Beach, CA