Fundraisers can bring people in your neighborhood together.
Neighborhood fundraisers can do more than raise money for improvements and projects. They can bring your community together, giving neighbors an opportunity to work side-by-side. As you plan fundraisers, solicit the opinions of people in the neighborhood; the more enthusiasm you have, the more participation you are likely to get.
Community Garden
A community garden is a way to bring your neighbors together, raise money and provide fresh food. Find an empty plot and turn it into a garden. Have local families help with the entire process, from planting to weeding and harvesting. Throughout the growing season, sell the vegetables at a farmer's market to raise money. The garden can help build a feeling of community and provide fresh, healthy vegetables.
Garden or Home Tour
If your neighborhood has a tradition of great gardens or old homes, turn it into a fundraiser. During the spring or summer, offer a special garden or home tour of the neighborhood's finest examples of homes and gardens. Invite the community to participate, charging a fee for the entire tour. Have each person serve drinks and light snacks when people visit. This type of fundraiser is a great way to show off your homes and gardens and requires very little work for each household beyond what it would normally do.
Neighborhood Potluck
For a collective twist on a spaghetti dinner, hold a neighborhood fundraiser potluck. Have all of your neighbors bring a dish and invite the community. Charge for entrance to raise money. This type of event gives people the chance to show off their cooking skills, and is particularly effective when you plan it around a theme. Kick the evening up by arranging for entertainment or games during the dinner.
Luau Party
If your neighborhood has a community pool, rent it out for a luau party fundraiser. Plan the event in the late afternoon and into the evening so people can bring their families to swim and stay on for dinner and dancing. Decorate the pool like a Hawaiian luau, sell grass skirts and leis for guests to wear and provide food and drink. In the evening, fill the pool with floating candles and light tiki lamps for a romantic effect. A community luau is a great way to end the summer and provide a final get-together before school starts again in the fall.
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