5 Ideas for a (Healthy) School Fundraiser without Banning Bake Sales

Did you read the recent Patriot Ledger article, Mass Health Department Wants Bake Sale Bans in Schools?

What do you think? Is banning a bake sale the way to end childhood obesity and health issues?

Sure, we all know that sugary, fried and processed foods aren’t good for us. Is banning bake sales the answer?

If the intention is to decrease health risk and obesity, maybe as a community we need to focus more on what we want – more education, awareness, support and movement – rather than what we don’t want. (I will not get in to the law of attraction, but know that I do believe our thoughts guide our actions).

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

As a high school student and member of the school marching band, my fellow band members and I needed to raise money for a trip to Florida. Our band had the opportunity to perform at Epcot Center and no one wanted to miss it.

To raise money, we held a dance-a-thon. For 24 hours band members and chaperones took over the High School cafeteria and danced. Well, music played all night and at certain times we were able to rest and catch a few zzz’s in our sleeping bags, but for the most part we moved. And had a blast doing it!

The end result? We raised enough money for our trip and a few months later enjoyed our time in the spotlight marching down the streets of Epcot.

GET CREATIVE

Instead of banning bake sales (which are fun and lucrative not to mention easy to hold on non-school property) why not get creative with fundraising efforts?

Fun, easy and cost effective are key words when thinking about a fundraiser. Off the top of my head, a few ideas include:

A dance-a-thon. Spend the night with friends (and a few chaperones), listen to your favorite music, and dance. We raised money for every hour that we danced.

A kids fun run. Larger road races often include a fun run as part of their event with much success and enjoyment from participants. Why not host your own? A bit of friendly competition is good motivation to move. Other ideas include a bike ride or family hike – plenty of opportunities for all three south of Boston.

Craft/Jewelry Sale. Much like bake sales, craft sales are fun and creative. Schedule it for certain times of the year like the holidays or spring when people are looking for crafts or gifts. This is also a great opportunity to tap into creativity.

Bake Sale with a Theme. If a bake sale is what you like, how about incorporating a theme like  “cooking with fruit” - whatever you bake has to have fruit in it (think apple pie, lemon squares, apple spice muffins). Or, sell something else. My nephew recently sold popcorn and (chocolate covered) pretzels for a Cub Scouts fundraiser. Baby steps, right?

Yogathon. This may be a stretch (pun intended) for the schools, yet yoga fundraisers are gaining in popularity and have the opportunity to raise hundreds or thousands of dollars. Yoga is a great stress management tool for all ages and everyone involved – parents, educators, students – will gain valuable life skills as a result.

Full disclosure: I don’t have kids. I was a kid once and I do have a niece and nephew who enjoy many if not all of the above activities. Certainly they can’t be the only ones!

Your turn: What ideas do you have for a fundraising option that is fun for everyone involved yet provides a healthier alternative? Should the state have the final say in what types of fundraising activities are allowed?

Stacey Shipman is a freelance health and wellness writer and founder of the online magazine, Healthy South Shore.