FUNdraising - More Fall Fun

.... your group can borrow these ideas for next year; start planning now....

Aitkin Women of Today (Aitkin, MN)
The Women of Today is a non-profit organization that runs many fundraisers and projects to benefit our community. For several years we have held the "Pumpkin Patch" in Aitkin. The Pumpkin Patch is a family event, usually run on a Sunday, two weeks before MEA weekend. It is held at our local city park, so it is an outdoor event. We have the following at the Patch:

Family Pictures: We have a local photographer come and take pictures of kids/families in their autumn or Halloween costumes, with a fall background
Booths: Halloween tattoos, pumpkin cookie decorating, one or two Halloween crafts, and more
Several Games: Including pumpkin bowling; prizes are of Halloween nature
A Not-so Haunted Haunted House: Located in our warming house, the past couple of years, the local Girl Scout troop has decorated this, inside and out, for young children and older children to visit. Profits from this goes directly to the Girl Scout troop.
Concessions: Fall type fare
Fall Bake Sale & Pumpkin Sales
Petting Zoo: Includes small pets that children can hold and handle. Will sometime feature kittens to "give away."
Fall Potholders: Children can put their handprint (painted) on the back of the potholder. Proceeds from this goes to the local Child Prevention Abuse Council.
Hayrides

This event is truly a community event. Our local Sentence to Serve group helps set up tents, tables, chairs, etc. for the event. They also help transport the purchase of pumpkins to people's cars. Miss Aitkin and her court work at the event. Aitkin Women of Today members dress up in Halloween costumes. Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative sponsor the horses and hay wagon for rides. At times, the Learning Stables have provided goats, horses, etc. for the petting zoo. Girl Scouts run the Not-So- Haunted Haunted horse. The local Boy Scouts help work at the games. Proceeds go to local charities and chapter maintenance.