Competition puts a little more fun and funds in fundraising. In our community there are constant drives to raise money in new and creative ways. It seems to be a cycle of support that works really well in our affluent region.
I have cookie dough in my fridge, apples and grapefruit on my counter, a lighted Christmas tree in my living room, stacks of magazines everywhere and chocolates hidden in every cupboard. Sometimes I wish I could just pay an extra $20 dollar instead of being responsible for selling $70 worth of candy. I would eat less chocolate and be a little bit less stressed.
It is sometimes hard to meet the quotas set by organizations when there are people who can sell hundreds of dollars' worth of product to their parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings living in the community while I can't make sales to my neighbours because their daughters, granddaughters, nieces, cousins and siblings are selling the same things.
Some of the campaigns are a challenge and some are fun. Some things are a good deal for a good cause while other things seem like a good deal before I realize I'm stuck with a bunch of stuff I don't really need.
My son told me the magazine sales incentives they reached at the high school weren't as exciting this year. He thinks it's because they did away with the prizing structure for senior high students instead making draws for nicer prizes. In the past he liked to work towards something, treating it as a game beating his earlier record and trying to earn better junk than his classmates. It reminded me of the goals my uncle set after finding the really cool prizes at the back of the comic books in the 1970s.
My son still sold magazines, but without the temptation of something that made strange sounds or had flashing lights he didn't work as hard.
At this time of year people are attracted by the glitter and lights and as the warm holiday feelings begin to stir they are willing to part with some of their cash for a good cause as well as for all the gifts.
The local festival of trees is an example of an enjoyable project. The items are fun to make and buy for the donors and they delight the buyers. Silent auctions can sometimes seem more laid back than live auctions, but Saturday night in Maidstone the atrium of the hospital filled up about half an hour before the bids closed and the energy reached a fever pitch as bidders and proxy bidders raced back and forth between items in the final minutes trying to secure the coveted highest bids.
Fundraising isn't always fun but it can be and when it is it makes more money and leaves everyone happier to be involved.
