Why Choose Gifts ‘N Things For Your Holiday Shop

Gifts ‘N Things has been family owned and operated since 1976; you could say we know a thing or two about holiday shops. Because we’ve been doing this for over 40 years, we’ve been able to learn and grow, becoming the best in the industry.

If you’re new to holiday shops, you may be wondering, “What’s a holiday shop anyway?” The answer: A gift buying service where the merchandise ships directly to schools (mostly elementary schools) and children are able to shop independently for their family members and friends.

Another way to think about holiday shops is by comparing them to how a book fair operates. Just like a book fair, there’s no risk to you because everything is under consignment, and if you don’t sell it—just send it back!

Our holiday shop, Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe, understands that all kids want to give gifts to their families—giving is fun! That’s why most of our gifts are less than $5, allowing everyone to participate.

What else makes us different? We believe 3 key factors set us apart from our competitors.

1. The Best Quality Gifts Available

The number one complaint in our industry is low-quality gifts that break or look bad. We take pride in our gifts and want your children to be proud to gift them. That’s why we design 100% of our gifts right down to the packaging. They’re not just a novelty with an imprint—they’re unique, thought out, and high quality.

2. Our Attention to Detail

We go beyond just sending boxes of gifts your way and leaving it at that. We’ve made sure there are images of all of our items on everything we do: inventory sheets, tent cards, etc. The process for volunteers is painless and simple, from the start to the very end. If we’re able to make your jobs easier, we do!

3. We are Leaders in Technology

Our technology is top-notch. We have a chairperson website which provides the chairperson access to all the information they need to have a successful holiday shop. We also have an app that makes the check out process quick and easy. And, we have an online gift certificate program where parents can pay online instead of sending their kids to school with cash.


This holiday, provide your kids with an experience they’ll treasure forever. If you’d like more information, please feel free to visit our website or request a free information kit.

Sign Up For Your Own Holiday Shop

Ready or not, the holidays are right around the corner. Cookies will be frosted, stockings will be hung, and gifts will be bought. All that’s missing is your very own Holiday Shop with Gifts N’ Things.

You don’t want to miss out on the perfect fundraising opportunity for your school this season – and signing up couldn’t be easier! Sign up by October 31st and you’ll receive our Cash Register App AND a bonus:

• 150 Lil’ Shoppers Shoppe Dollars or 5% additional profit on your Shoppe
• $300 Carnival Kit
• Giant 6’ Gift Stocking
• Pre-programmed coded cash register rental with 10% or 20% profit markup

All you have to do is select your dates, profit, and sign up bonus. Then it’s smooth sailing and happy shoppers!

You should expect your Chairperson Kit about 4 weeks before your sale, which includes everything you need to promote your shoppe. When the time comes to get shopping, your merchandise arrives with pre-priced tent cards making it easier than ever to set up. Bags and tablecloths are provided and merchandise is price coded to make checkout fast and easy.

When you’re done, use our simple inventory or no count inventory system to make returns simple and hassle-free. You’ll get prepaid UPS labels for easy and free product returns.

By fundraising with a Holiday Shop, children learn the joys of giving and the value of money. All gifts are supplied and designed by us, safety tested, and cost-friendly. Children will love that they’re able to join in the gift giving and parents will love that shopping has never been easier, safer, or more affordable.

We’re a family business with over 40 years of experience and we’re proud of our products and our volunteers. We’d love to add your students to our team of Lil’ Shoppers and make the holiday season a holly jolly giving time.

The Benefits of Running a School Holiday Shop

The holiday season is for spreading cheer, so start it right by shopping here!

The Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe is a place where children discover the joy of giving. We have the highest quality gifts in the school holiday shop industry. We are also an affordable option, because 85% of our gift items are priced at $5.00 or less.

You’ll find something here for everyone on a child’s list: parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, teachers, special friends – even pets!

Kid-Friendly Shopping

For many children, this may be the first time they experience the thrill of picking out their own holiday gifts for family and friends. With the help of parents and teachers, students can learn the value of money and how to spend it wisely. It’s a great way for students to practice the act of giving and begin thinking of others during the holiday season.

Peace of Mind for Parents

During the holiday season, parents can rest assured that their children will shop in a safe, non-commercial setting. Our top priorities are providing an environment that is safe and fun for the students. Children shop under adult supervision in a safe indoor environment. Volunteers help out, but never pressure the kids shopping to buy.

Administrators and Teachers Love It

The Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe is a popular holiday shop service that’s risk-free and easy to run for the Parent Teacher Association or Parent Teacher Organization of a school. The Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe was developed by listening to the needs of school administrators and teachers for over 40 years. Your faculty can teach their students about budgeting and spending wisely at the school holiday gift store. It’s a good opportunity to bring the real world into the classroom, starting at a young age.

We have everything you need to run a successful holiday shop. All a school needs to do is get volunteers to sign up – and it won’t cost the school a penny. There are no freight charges or hidden costs. The school only pays for the merchandise they sell!

Only Top-Quality Gifts

The Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe offers only high-quality holiday gifts priced right for kids shopping. Many of the gifts were designed from input given by volunteers, teachers and students. There’s something here for everyone!


Like us on Facebook for the newest info and offerings from the Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe.

Sports Teams Make Better People: Here’s How You Can Help

When you pitch in on a fundraiser for a local youth sports team, you’re not just helping finance the team. You’re giving kids the opportunity to grow into the best versions of themselves.

That’s because team sports are full of life lessons. They help build better people, and that’s something you can feel good about supporting.

Here are three ways youth sports help kids grow:

1. They Learn to be Team Players

When you’re on a sports team, you form a bond with your teammates. You learn how to be accountable, to know that your teammates are depending on you. A team sport can help kids see how their contribution, when added with others, adds to the success of the entire team.

That’s not so much different from adult civic life, where you also must get along with others in a team-like setting. That notion of responsibility and duty to others sticks with them.

2. They’re Happier

Research shows that young teens who participate in sports are happier than teens who don’t. They’re more satisfied with their lives.

That might be because team sports not only give kids a mission in their lives to work toward, but also a sense of belonging. Teams cut through social and economic divides, bringing children from all backgrounds together for the love of the game. Those friendships can carry on long after they’ve left the field.

3. They Gain Perspective

Any team must lose sooner or later. With sports, kids quickly learn how to weather losses. In this way, their coach becomes a life coach of sorts: giving the loss context, teaching them that failure is a part of life, and motivating them to bounce back.

Through sports, kids learn that winning isn’t the end-all-be-all. They also learn how, through a little practice and determination, they have the power to turn things around for the better.


Gifts ‘N Things helps kids succeed by teaching them how hard work can pay off - sports teach them the same lesson! To learn more about Gifts ‘N Things, visit our website.

Encourage Your Child to Volunteer This Summer

Now that school is out, parents will likely find themselves asking Now what?

You might travel as a family, or sign your child up for a summer camp, but you will want to consider how to make summer educational and meaningful as well as fun for your child.

As far as enriching summer options, the choices are endless. If you really want to bring meaning and growth to your child’s summer, encourage your child to volunteer.

Giving Back to the Community

Volunteering is all about giving your time and talents. For kids, the act of giving is vital for developing strong character qualities, including the ability to recognize and empathize with the needs of others and to give freely and without expecting anything in return. By developing these qualities, kids actually experience more personal success and do better in school – as well as build greater confidence and stronger friendships.

Growing as a Person

While some students may find comfort in the stable predictability of the school day, others may experience the burnout that comes from too much repetition. A summer volunteering experience is a perfect way for your children to break the routine and explore something out of the ordinary. Some students simply don’t learn best while confined indoors for long stretches. Volunteering will give students the opportunity to learn and explore while standing up, moving around and interacting more freely than is often the case at school.

In addition to getting out and about, students will grow from interacting with people from different generations, socio-economic backgrounds, and general life circumstances. They are likely to cross paths with people they otherwise wouldn’t have met if it hadn’t been for volunteering. They might learn about what life was like a long time ago from an elderly person they are helping, or perhaps, about customs and culture in another part of a world from an immigrant in the community.

Learn New Skills or Perfect Existing Ones

Although volunteering is about giving, you often receive more than you give in the end. This receiving may come in the form of new friendships, new-found inner strength, and in learning new skills. Some such skills will be tangible like learning or improving a musical talent, while others will be a little more abstract, like a stronger sense of self, better communication skills, and the ability to work better in a group setting order to achieve a common goal.


Help your kids get the most out of their summer break by giving back. Volunteering is the perfect way to grow, learn, and - yes - have fun. Not only that, but they’ll get plenty of practice for their school fundraisers!

Helping Kids Finish the Year Strong!

With less than 60 days to go in the school year (cue the dancing), there are still many weeks of lessons to get through, experiments to try, and projects to complete. So how do we make sure that students (and teachers) stay focused and stay hard-at-work through the spring?

Reassess Goals

How has your student been progressing toward their goals for the year? Even though there are months behind us, the weeks ahead are a perfect opportunity for striving to reach those goals, whether they’re academic, social, or behavioral. Hint: this goes for teachers and parents too!

Materials Check

Those crayon boxes are probably in tatters and those poor notebooks are likely a mess. Now is a good time to replace anything that needs it, even if it’s simply getting a new stock of freshly sharpened pencils. New goods can give a fresh bolt of energy to any classroom or student that’s feeling dull.

Get to Bed on Time

Although the sun is going down later and later, it’s important to stick to your routine and get kids to bed on time to be fresh and alert in school. The good news? Those earlier sunrises will help your kids wake up with a little less grumbling.

Go Outside

Do you remember the joy and gratitude you felt for any science project, book discussion, or field trip that took you out of the school when you were younger? Being in nature and soaking in some sun and fresh air is rejuvenating and can help get creative juices flowing. Whether classes are taken outside, playtime is extended, or kids (and adults) walk or bike to school, it’s a great time to take advantage of the nicer weather.

Set Expectations

Although everyone may wish they could check out for the summer in April, make it clear that there is still a lot to cover and accomplish during this school year. So crack open the windows, crack open the books, and keep the momentum going through these last few weeks!

5 Grand Ways to Show Your Appreciation for Teachers and Volunteers

Teachers and volunteers work tirelessly for our kids, spending hours putting together everything from quizzes to crafts to spelling lists. Try these creative and heartfelt ideas to show your appreciation.

1. Thank You’s from the Kids

All the work and effort these people give is because of the kids. Package the kids’ cuteness and gratefulness to make a special message that goes straight to the heart. Have the kids create a thank you video, interview them to see what they appreciate about that person, or have them recreate a scene or a skit that illustrates their feelings. Kids can also work together to create a gratitude flower with petals from each child, or a large handprint or fingerprint craft as a handmade gift.

2. Gifts They Can Use in the Classroom or Take Home

We all know that teachers often use their own money to get things for their classroom. Many teachers purchase craft supplies, decorations, or organization items like bins. Ask them to write out a wish list that you can distribute to other parents so their wishes can come true! Or invest in some great fabric or transparent bins that they can use in their room or take home if they wish. Practical, money-saving gifts can really make an impact while improving the classroom.

3. Decorations that Surprise Them

Sneak into their space and decorate like mad! Decorate their classroom door with a theme and their kids’ contributions, or dedicate a hallway to your volunteers or teachers by hanging items from the ceiling and decking out a bulletin board. If you have access to their classroom or the PTO/PTA room, transform it into something surprising and fantastic, like an underwater party, a royal castle, or a magical forest.

4. Options for Choosing Their Own Gift

Instead of another mug or pen, combine efforts with other parents to purchase a gift card so that they can purchase whatever they’d like. Another option is for schools that sell scrip — take donations from families and let teachers or volunteers choose the scrip gift card.

5. The Cute Gifts

Sometimes you have to just let the cuteness flow. Themed snacks, decorated gifts, and puns galore (like “Thanks a latte!” or “You are a tea-rrific teacher!”) will still bring a smile to the teacher or volunteer’s face. Pair your sentiment with a nice gift card, coffee, or flowers, and that person will surely feel your appreciation.

If you’re a school volunteer, a teacher, or a parent who is looking to thank others, please accept our gratitude for all you do for kids in your community. If we could send you all gratitude flowers, we would!

A Guide to Holiday Shop Volunteer Appreciation

Santa’s eaten all the cookies, selfies & group photos have been taken with loved ones, and your Holiday Shop is completed - Now it’s time for you to show the right appreciation for your volunteers!

We’re sure you noticed that volunteers keep the world spinning during the days of your holiday shop, so here are a few tips on how to keep them wanting to come back next holiday season while expressing your gratitude.

They’re Rockstars – Show Them

Your holiday shop probably had a few lines that felt longer than Santa’s naughty-or-nice list this season, and your volunteers brought their A-game to make it work. One way to show your appreciation is to break out that list of volunteer names, put them on cut-out stars, and hang them in the lobby or cafeteria. Inviting a few ‘lil helpers will teach them a valuable lesson in showing they care, express creativity, and also be a total blast.

Have an Awards Night

Everyone likes to get a pat on the back or a nod of a hat for a job well done. What better way to show you care by hosting an awards night for volunteers? Order some pizza, and send out an invitation to families that participated after getting your creative juices flowing for awards. Use your sense of humor and have the volunteers participate. A fun family outing is a great way to show the kids that hard work gets recognized.

3 Words: Volunteer Survival Kit

A sense of humor can go a long way and can be an excellent way to relieve stress after the weeks of planning and hectic execution. Start your kit by gathering pens, sticky notes, candy, highlighters, coffee shop gift cards, etc. Put them in a storage bag, label it, and include a small personable note expressing your thanks to the parents. The secret here is creativity, becoming an incredible investment towards participation in next year’s event.

The Classic Thank You Note

Different ways to show thanks come and go like fidget spinners & rompers. The handwritten thank you note is a timeless classic that never goes out of style. Be personal in your letter and create a narrative of the fundraiser. Frame any struggles in a light-hearted sense of humor and celebrate victories comprehensively. Send feelers out in your PTO meeting when you recap the event to get the whole picture. This will give you items to improve next time and showcase your competencies to use for next year, while also making a great outline for an amazing thank you note. Your group will be grateful for tackling 3 birds with one thank you note to express gratitude to your volunteers.


We hope that you can take some of these pointers and give them your own spin to show your volunteers how much you care. With a little creativity, these mementos can make a world of difference in volunteer participation, just like they’ve made a world of difference to your holiday shop and community.

If you found this helpful, be sure to follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on pointers and your holiday shop!

At-Home Winter Activities for Kids – Without Devices!

During the winter months, it’s difficult to find activities to keep the kids busy, learning, and having fun without sending them to devices or screens. For something new you can do at home this winter, try these indoor and outdoor activities.

1. Snow Isn’t Just for Snowmen

If you’re looking longingly out your window and wishing for outdoor activities, you could build two snow forts for an epic snow battle, paint the snow using an emptied ketchup bottles and dyed water, or put on a backyard Winter Olympics, complete with long (snow) jump, best snow angel, or a backyard luge (sledding).

2. Go for a Winter Walk

The next time it’s snowing, bundle up and go for a stroll. Notice how quiet it gets when it snows, catch snowflakes on your tongue, and compare the shapes and sizes of the flakes that fall into your hands. It’s a good time to admire nature’s beauty while getting some fresh air. If there’s no snow in your area, kids can enjoy finding nature’s treasures and examining how nature changes during the cold months.

3. Read Your Favorite Children’s Book

Remember your favorite children’s book—perhaps The Chronicles of Narnia, The Little Prince, Where the Red Fern Grows, or Hatchet? Pull it out or get it from the library, and read a chapter or two aloud each night. Older kids can take turns reading a page or a chapter as well to practice their skills.

4. Have a Family Talent Show

Requirement: everyone has to perform! Choose a talent – from playing an instrument to telling bad jokes – and take turns showing off in the performance to remember! You can even take the time earlier in the day to create your own trophies for the winners.

5. Indoor Blanket Forts

Does this ever get old for kids? Help the kids hang up the biggest blankets you can find, and climb in with them! Read stories, pretend you are outdoor scouts in your tents, or just snuggle and tell stories.

6. Put on a Birthday Party—for Your Favorite Stuffed Animal

It’s someone’s birthday! Young kids will adore the chance to celebrate a favorite fuzzy friend. They can decorate with streamers, make a sign, wrap up a “gift” for them, and make them a birthday card. It’s up to you to decide if there’s a cake!

7. Have a Snack Taste Test

This activity is good for young kids to tweens and everyone in between. Set up an anonymous taste test of your favorite snacks and foods and let everyone rate their favorites. It’s a chance to talk about taste, texture, put a name to flavors, and discuss respecting others’ opinions. Plus, you may discover your family has a strong preference for one brand or snack over another. Set out foods like applesauce, noodles, condiments, bread, or cookies. Older kids can take part by being the organizers and may enjoy being on the inside track of the activity.


As the saying goes, “The days are long but the years are fast.” Enjoy these long days of winter, for the years with children go all too fast.

How To Get Organized After The Holidays

The holidays are a joyous time. All of that prep work and celebrating during the holidays brings joy and warm feelings to families all over the country.

Once they’re over, however, you might feel a little differently about the holidays. Remembering the organization and budgeting it takes to get your family back on track can bring feelings of a very different kind.

Getting back on track isn’t impossible, however. Follow these top tips for how to get organized after the holidays.

1. Clean out Your Refrigerator

After the holiday fun, you may have a lot of leftovers in your fridge. Not only do leftovers take up extra space in your fridge, holiday leftovers take the place of healthier foods. Instead of letting them take up space or ingesting the extra calories, take the time to clean out your refrigerator.

2. Ditch the Sweets.

They’re everywhere during the holidays so this one will be difficult to do, especially for
the kids. Although they (and maybe even you) may protest ditching them, your teeth and
health will thank you later.

You don’t need to throw spare sweets away. You could bring them to the office to share with coworkers. Another option is to teach your kids about community giving by creating care packages for those in need. 

3. Get Back on Your Exercise Routine

You might not have had time to exercise during the holidays. The season keeps many of us busy helping with school events and planning and hosting your own holiday parties. Now that the holidays are over, start again by making small goals, then gradually increase your goal until you’re back to your pre-holiday workout routine. Get your family involved by visiting local rec centers or gyms to play family-oriented games together.

4. Get Plenty of Sleep

With most holidays, you may begin to lose sleep. You and your family have so much fun, you don’t follow your normal bedtime routine. Your kids may protest at first, but getting everyone on the same bedtime routine as soon as the holidays are over will benefit everyone, including yourself.


Now that you have these great tips to get organized, you and your family will feel like your pre-holiday-selves in now time.

When it comes time to fundraise for your school or prepare spring events, contact Gifts ‘N Things. We have everything to keep you organized, no matter the season.

Simple Ways to Get Your Kids Involved in Holiday Gift-Giving

We want our kids to be generous, kind people. At this time of year, we peek around the mountains of holiday gifts and shout: “The joy is in the giving! It’s not just about getting presents!”

During a time when the gifts and treats abound, let’s not forget to turn the tables and encourage kids to participate in their own gift-giving. Kids are naturally generous, so enjoy these ways to incorporate children into the joy of giving this year.

1. Kid-friendly Shopping

With a few dollars in their pocket, children thoroughly enjoy picking out thoughtful gifts for those they love. Whether they’ve earned it themselves or parents give them some money to spend, it can be a novelty that allows them to finally give back. Organizing one of our Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppes puts everything in one place and fundraises for your school at the same time! Gifts are affordable for children to buy (down to $1) and the experience is geared toward kids; the whole process is easy to set up and operate. View some of our gifts and find out more!

2. Homemade Treasures

From handprints in clay, to decorated mugs, to special drawings, sometimes the arts and crafts are the most treasured gifts (and some of the only ones kept for posterity). Take an afternoon and try these brilliant crafts your kids can create as gifts.

3. Photo Gifts and Ornaments

Kids and adults alike love to see how kids change and grow from year to year. Begin a holiday tradition that captures that year’s memories. Photo calendars and photo books are a collection of the year’s special moments. Kids can choose the photos and even lay them out with some of the easier-to-use services. Fill out a funny end-of-year survey to capture what makes them tick. Or give the gift of annual ornaments; your family can collect them year after year and look back with fond memories each time they trim the tree.

4. Home-baked Treats

We dare you to show us a Grandpa who wouldn’t love a tin of homemade cookies! Get baking with your kids with easy recipes, then wrap up some of your treats in pretty boxes or tins for a yummy gift. Just be sure to do your baking right before the gift will be opened to ensure freshness.

5. Experiences

Part of making the holidays (and childhood) special is by creating lasting memories. Doing special activities with loved ones can be a memory-making gift – one that could easily turn into a tradition. Try ideas like a Sled-a-thon, where you test out all the nearby sledding hills, go to see A Christmas Carol on stage, plan a fancy tea party complete with gloves and petits-fours, or just sit back and let the kids decide!



From shopping for the perfect gift at a Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe to creating a homemade masterpiece, kids will not only enjoy giving gifts, they will get to cultivate their natural generosity and holiday spirit.

Holiday Shop Success Made Simple with Help from Gifts ‘N Things

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the mere concept of planning a Holiday Shop for your school. There’s a lot that goes into a successful, well-run Holiday Shop : choosing gifts that are high-quality and popular, ordering the right amount of inventory, pricing it with a margin that’s not too low or too high, setting up the shop with tables, decoration, and more.

Luckily, that’s why we exist: we make our programs EASY and enjoyable for you! With over 40 years of experience, we know what goes into successful school fundraising and we’ve made it as simple as possible. Here’s how:

• Well-priced, high quality gifts. 85% of our items are under $5.00, making our gifts ideal for school-aged shoppers. We even offer suggested retails at different profit levels with our handy price coding system - no more guesswork! Best of all, all of our merchandise is on consignment so you only pay for what you sell.
• Easy setup, with our FREE supplies. We include everything you need to run and market your holiday shop, at no cost to your school. From hallway posters, to parent letters, budget envelopes, tablecloth to pre-priced tent cards for each item - it’s all included in your kit. New this year, we're offering an optional 37-piece decoration kit that includes aprons, hats and more to make your shop more festive!
• Stress-free management through technology! We build tools specifically to make the organizer’s life easier. Our Cash Register App lets you easily check students out, including the ability to process credit cards. Our Chairperson Website is personalized specifically for you, and allows you to track materials, re-order inventory as needed, print support materials, and more.

Learn more about how we make school fundraising and holiday shops EASY by requesting your free info kit today, or download our brochure for more information.

When is the Best Time to Start Your Fundraiser?

Pulling off a successful fundraiser involves so many decisions. You have to consider who your audience is, what kind of fundraiser to host, what the margins will be, how long you have to fundraise, and so many other things! One of the most important factors to consider, though, is the time of year you decide to hold your fundraiser.

Picking the Right Season

There are pros and cons to running a fundraiser in any “season” of the year. Weather, competing events, and donor attitudes are all key elements. Check out this list and this fun infographic for a brief comparison of spring, summer, fall, and winter fundraising times.

December boasts the highest giving month of the year, but weather can be troublesome in some areas. Spring and summer are usually delightful opportunities for outdoor fundraisers, but competition can be stiff and vacations take away many donors.

Another topic to consider when choosing the time of year will be whether your organizers have ample time to lead and market your fundraiser appropriately. For example, the holiday season between November-December may mean your main participants are very overwhelmed. After all, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

When to Begin Planning

Planning is perhaps the only thing more important than when you host your fundraiser. Beginning to plan well enough in advance is the ticket to success. With summer vacation wrapping up soon and school starting just around the corner, the time to start planning your fundraiser is NOW - even if you won’t be hosting it until the winter or spring. You’ll be able to work on planning details here and there around your busy schedule over several months, rather than trying to throw it together crash-course style in a couple weeks. We all know, regardless of the season, life will always feel busy! Having a great plan in place is sure to help you reach your fundraising goals.

When it comes down to the best seasons to promote a fundraiser, our picks are simple:

• Product Fundraising - Start in September or October. These fundraisers correlate best right after the "Back to School" season.
• Holiday Shop - Between Thanksgiving and the Holiday break. These fundraisers can be done earlier in the school year, but this is the time that people have the holiday season on their mind. 
• Thons - Spring is overwhelmingly the best time. Summer thons work well, too, but your kids will be out of school and will have a disadvantage in communication. Spring is also the time when people are most excited about being outdoors and most enthusiastic about joining a thon.

Planning can seem rather daunting and overwhelming, especially if you have a small group doing the work of organizing or if you’re doing it alone! Why not let Gifts ’N Things do what we do best? We’re professional fundraisers and we can help ensure planning is fun and stress-free for you! Click here to get your FREE informational kit so you can start your fundraiser off on the right foot, no matter the time of year.

Social Media Fundraising Made Easy

Creating a Facebook Event Page is a great way to get everyone connected, and it’s a lot easier than you may think. Below is a guide on how to set up your Facebook event and make it successful.

First, let’s start with the steps to take to create and invite people to your event.

Creating an Event

1. Click Events in the left menu of your News Feed.
2. Click Create Event in the top right.
3. Click to choose between a private or public event. If you're creating a public event, you can set the event's host as yourself or a page you manage. You're not able to change the privacy settings once you've created the event.
4. Fill in the event name, details, location and time. 
5. Click Create. You'll be taken to your event where you can invite guests, upload photos, share posts and edit event details.

Inviting People to Your Event

If you're a host of an event, you can invite your friends. Event creators are automatically listed as hosts. As an event host, you can choose different privacy settings for who can see, join or invite guests to your event.

1. Go to the event
2. Click “Invite” in the top right, below the photo
3. Search for and select friends to invite and then click “Send Invites”

Tip: Adding more hosts to the page is a great way for your friends to share the event with their friends and family.

What type of information should you add to the event?

You’ll want to add information that is light but informative and also grabs attention. If you are hosting a physical event or sale somewhere, give your guests directions and information about it. Invite friends to volunteer, if needed. Add plenty of pictures and use hashtags when posting them.

 

Creating a Hashtag

Using a hashtag for an event is a great way for people to share photos and stay connected! By using a hashtag in front of a word (also commonly known as a pound symbol), it creates a clickable link. By clicking on the link, you’ll see a feed of public posts that include that hashtag. To get your event hashtag trending, use it in all photos and posts so event members can join the talk as well!



Getting your Facebook friends involved in your fundraising efforts is a great way to promote your event. It’s also a quick and easy way to update everyone on special dates, deliveries, and more. Get people excited about your next Gifts 'N Things fundraiser with Facebook events. You’ll get the best results your organization, school, or group has ever had!

Life Skills Your Kids Learn From Fundraising

You might perceive fundraising as a pesky part of your child's schooling. When the catalogs of products roll out, it can be hard to envision much more than the work it will take for your child to raise the money expected of them. But hosting a fundraiser is more beneficial to your kids than you think. Here are some life skills your kids learn from fundraising.

Customer Service

Assisting individuals as they pick out which items they would like to purchase is a task most everyone in their lives have done at some point. Great customer service requires knowledge of the products, patience, honesty, politeness, and the ability to follow through on promises. What better way for your child to learn how to deliver great customer service than fundraising? This is a stepping stone to what will likely be a skill needed in their first job.

Financial Responsibility

Oftentimes, fundraising is one of the first opportunities your child has to experience handling a significant amount of money. Besides this, the important aspect of financial goal setting is introduced. Be sure your child takes on as much financial responsibility as possible during the fundraising process. They will gain a lot of confidence when it comes to dealing with money and learn some hard earned lessons about achieving, or not achieving, financial goals.

Communication

Communication skills do not develop in a classroom alone. Fundraising will surely advance your child's communication skills. It is not easy to ask adults or strangers for contributions. It is not easy to have the courage to speak in uncomfortable situations. Fundraising offers these life lessons for your child if you simply let them to take charge. You will be impressed with how poised your child can be speaking to an adult if you allow them the practice.

The next time your child's school begins a fundraiser, approach it as a learning opportunity for your child. Remember the positive aspects it will bring as it forces your child to grow into a more sophisticated and capable person.

Defeat Summer Boredom with These 7 Outdoor Activities

With summer fast approaching and school graduations abound, children will soon be heard collectively sighing, “I’m sooooo bored.” Though they won’t have classes and homework to keep them busy, that doesn’t mean they have to sit around all day like zombies forgetting everything they learned during the school year. Here are 7 FREE summer ideas that you can do with your children to help keep them active and entertained.

Go on a Quest

Did somebody say scavenger hunt? No? How about BEACH SCAVENGER HUNT?!? Head to the nearest beach with this list and have a scavenger hunt. With items like “something made out of metal” and “three different kinds of shells”, your trip can be informative while also adventurous. Bring an extra bag or two and help clean up any trash while you’re there. This will teach your kids conservation as well as keep them busy!

Camping at Home

Have an unexpected day off? Put the tent up in the yard and have an impromptu camping trip without the hassle of packing and travel.

Paper Airplane Contest

Help your kids learn about what makes airplanes fly and have fun at the same time. Check out these downloadable designs for some fast and easy paper airplanes and hold a competition in your backyard when the projectiles are complete.

Backyard Sock Puppet Play

Hark! Is that a young Shakespeare I hear? Follow these simple instructions to turn an old bed sheet into an impressive theater curtain. You can also find tons of cool puppet ideas on Pinterest. Let your kids write a script, pop some popcorn and enjoy the show!

Be Kind

With advancements in technology and instant entertainment abound, it is easy for children (and adults) to become self-absorbed. However, it’s also easy for us to be kind to our fellow man and give selflessly. Teach your children about acts of kindness by putting together care packages for troops, organize a food drive for your local food shelf, or set up a community cleanup project.

Paint the Town (or just your driveway)

Kids love to color. Sidewalk chalk is an incredible outlet for this. There’s little to no inside mess. Okay, this idea might cost a few dollars, but it is completely worth it. There are several recipes for sidewalk chalk, and when thinking about getting more bang for your buck, it is cheaper than buying boxes of it from the store. Plus, cleanup is a breeze. Just wait for the next rain storm.

Neighborhood Olympics

Do you have the next Usain Bolt or Michelle Akers living near you? Organize a neighborhood Olympics with fun races and obstacle courses and give prizes for the top spots.


School might be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean your kids need to stop exploring, learning, and being active. Take some of these fun ideas and get busy with your kids! When the time comes again to get busy raising funds for your favorite organizations, visit Gifts ‘N Things for everything you’ll need.

The Most Colorful Fundraiser Around: Color-a-Thon!

The best active fundraiser you didn’t know existed combines health, getting outside, raising money for your school, heaps of fun for kids, and blasts of color! The Color-a-thon is an organized 3k-5k run for kids. Students collect pledges from family, friends, and neighbors to run or walk in the 3k-5k fun run.

We’ve seen great results—and tons of fun photos—come out of Color-a-thon fundraising races at elementary and middle schools around the country. These high-energy events are a growing trend for school fundraisers, and it’s easy to see why they work.

To make this fundraiser even easier, we provide you with the tools you’ll need to make this event a huge success. With your package, we will provide t-shirts and color packs for all who participate, flags and route markers for the run itself, the option to purchase items to sell at the event, Money Management Software for accepting credit cards and running reports, and more. To begin planning your Spring Color-a-thon for this school year, visit us at gntinc.com.

Color-a-thons are perfect for:

• Elementary schools’ spring or fall fundraisers
• Middle schools’ spring or fall fundraisers
• Fundraisers for churches, camp, high school marching band, clubs, or sports teams—whether in spring, summer or fall!

There are two ways to pump up the color and the profits:

1.     Donation-based Upgrades and Rewards

Students can earn extra rewards and race-day upgrades based on the number of donations they’ve received. For example, a student could receive a t-shirt and color pack and participate for as little as $30 in donations, or, for over $500, they could get a full packet of goodies for the race, like wacky tutus, rainbow stockings, megaphones, wiper glasses, white wigs, and extra color dye packs!

2.     Standard Perks with Entry Fee

This option allows for a flat entry fee to offer the same accessories for everyone. Everyone who enters will receive a white t-shirt and color dye pack. We’ll also send you extra bulk color according to your number of registrants. Encourage students to wear colorful socks, tutus, wigs, or funky hair on their own to complete the celebration, or fun items can be sold at the event for added profit!

According to health.com, “running can offer something to kids—especially kids who aren’t athletically inclined or who are overweight—that a lot of other sports can’t—the chance to be physically active at their own pace.” So let’s get these kids moving and enjoying the outdoors while raising serious funds for our schools and organizations! Visit gntinc.com for more.

Boost Your Fundraising Energy, Quickly and Naturally

Let’s be honest, fundraising takes a lot of energy - not just physical energy, but mental energy, too! Keeping up with your child and helping them reach their fundraising goal is no easy task. One way to keep your energy levels up is to add some energizing items to your plate.

Some of these superfoods might be tough to pronounce, but don’t let that deter you! A simple google search will help you find several easy and creative recipes to help you enjoy these energy-boosting foods. Many of these foods can simply be added in the blender to your favorite smoothie! Plus, these foods are available at most whole food stores, co-ops, or local grocery store’s natural food sections.

Leafy Greens

The dark green leaves of kale, spinach, collards, and swiss chard are full of nutrients you need daily, as well as sustainable energy. Saute them for a quick side dish, toss them with other greens in a fresh salad, or blend some into a green smoothie for on-the-go fundraising energy.

Seeds

Seeds of many varieties–Chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds–are perfect examples of great things in small packages! They’re rich in omegas and various minerals and will help boost your energy. Sprinkle them on salads, in smoothies, or toss them with Greek yogurt or cereal to kickstart your day. You can also mix some with granola for a quick boost during your fundraising event.

Seaweed

Spirulina is a form of algae, and along with other forms of seaweed, is high in iron and fatty acids. Spirulina also contains tons of complete protein (more than meat) which means it’s a great energy source. You can get it in powder form and hide it in all sorts of meals or smoothies!

Maca

Never heard of it? It’s a root vegetable native to Peru and it helps support your adrenal glands (which produce your stress hormones). Maca can help you fight fatigue and reduce stress, giving you more energy for the fun things in life (like FUNdraising)!

Pseudograins

Funny name aside, these grains are packed with energy. Amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, and wild rice are all technically seeds, but you can use them in dishes in place of grains for a more energy-packed meal.


Select a few choices from this list of superfoods and you’ll be sure to find that extra boost you (and your child) need to really succeed in fundraising. You’ll see great results in your energy, your health, and your fundraising goals!


For more fun tips and tricks, follow Gifts ‘N Things on Facebook.

How to Get Parents More Involved in School Fundraising

It’s no secret that between the fundraisers, open houses, teacher appreciation weeks, and many more projects, Parent Teacher Organizations/Associations (PTAs and PTOs) are extremely busy and essential to any school.

For parents and teachers alike, it’s rewarding to engage other parents to help the school and make an impact, but these endeavors are run largely on volunteer power. Whether your school is a large bustling public school or an intimate parochial school, it can often be challenging to find enough volunteers to pull off your PTO/PTA’s plans.

Step 1: Organize Your Group

You most likely have your President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. But think about which other roles would be helpful to fill. Do you have a volunteer coordinator who can manage the sign-ups and communications? Do you need specific volunteers to be a chair for each major effort?

Splitting out your yearly events and assigning a chair (and possibly co-chair) to each one will not only take the pressure off the whole of the group but will empower that person to put their stamp on the effort. Disagreements about how to run that event or project? It goes to the chair in charge. Next item!

Step 2: Make Signing Up Terribly Easy

Communicate electronically and use online sign-up websites like SignUp Genius, Volunteer Signup.org, or iVolunteer. Make it clear what the project is, what your goals are, and the commitment it requires and then let people sign themselves up. As slots fill, the remaining needed times are easily seen. Volunteers have the option to leave notes, sign up for several slots, change their sign-up, and can have the commitment automatically put on their calendar. Easy-peasy!

Step 3: Give Potential Volunteers Options

A common complaint among non-volunteering parents is that there aren’t any options that fit their schedule or their lifestyle. It is essential to break up needs into smaller or online options for those who work, those with little ones at home, or those who would rather help out on their own schedule.

Examples include:

• Preparing materials for an upcoming craft
• Being the email liaison (an electronic responsibility)
• Soliciting support from your place of business—whether financial or in-kind
• Drafting or organizing a newsletter
• Graphic design volunteer hours
• Chairing an evening event after work hours

No matter what someone contributes, it makes a positive impact.

Step 4: Make Meetings Fun and Meaningful

Nothing steers people away faster than the thought of boring, endless meetings. Organize a well-planned agenda, decide what you need to accomplish, and move on. Bring in coffee, treats, and allow some time for chit-chat, but be respectful of everyone’s time by moving through your agenda items. Some organizations choose to meet in the evening to accommodate working parents, and some meet for happy hour or dinner to balance the social with the business. Poll your group, find the best time and place, and have fun!

Step 5: Reach Working Parents

Naturally, you want to reach all parents so they can be an active part of your children’s school. Plan meetings during the evening and give plenty of options for volunteer opportunities outside of work hours so that working moms and dads can give their input and support. If daytime volunteering comes up in the classrooms, give people plenty of notice so that working parents can take time off or arrange schedules as needed.

Step 6: Offer Childcare

Just as working parents find it difficult to volunteer, sometimes stay-at-home parents find it hard to volunteer if they have toddlers or babies at home. Try offering on-site childcare during meetings or event prep time so that these parents can get involved without worrying about a toddler’s needs at that moment. Some schools use one of the preschool rooms or a church nursery to accommodate the little siblings, which can be staffed by a school staff member, another parent, or a certified teen babysitter(s) looking for experience.

Step 7: Reach out to Grandparents

Grandparents and other family members are an untapped resource! Especially if they are available during the day, these doting volunteers can offer help as well as advice and perspective on your projects.

Send out an email to existing parents that they can forward to other family members, inviting them to sign up to be on a volunteer newsletter list, or asking them to email the volunteer coordinator if they’d like to make a difference at the school. You may even find some retired teachers, nurses, artists, or fundraising professionals who could offer special insight into your school efforts!

With today’s busy schedules, finding volunteers can be a constant challenge. Making sure the experience is fun, impactful, and respectful of all types of parents is the key to maintaining support from your volunteers. Follow Gifts ‘N Things on Facebook for more tips and tricks. Best of luck!