We are having our calendar party soon. Some of the themed baskets are: spring cleaning; back to school; pamper yourself; summer fun; thanksgiving (everything you need for your thanksgiving dinner); mardi gras; fitness; organization basket.

We also 'hit up' all of our vendors that we use throughout the year. Candy sales companies; candle companies (home interiors, etc.) They're more than willing to help. We've also written to many non-profit groups (zoo, ballet, symphony, museums) They're usually most generous also and we use those for a city-themed basket. It usually goes over really well.

We held our first silent basket auction for our fall festival this year, and it was a HUGE hit!
We let each classroom choose their theme and then all the families in the class donated items for their class basket. A couple of classes had so much stuff that we split it all up into two or three baskets.
A couple of our girl scout troops made up baskets as well and some of the teachers put together their own too.
We had a fishing theme (with enough stuff donated to do a "big" basket for an adult and a "little" basket for a child. We had "fall" as a theme, Books R Fun, we had a "school spirit" basket (I made a stadium blanket in the school colors, on of our moms who is a jeweler made a school pin and one of the school secretaries donated a t-shirt and hat). We had a couple of "baby" themed baskets (one was complete with a stroller), one started out as a first aid basket and got split up into a "car emergency kit", a home emergency kit as well as a first aid kit.
Just lots of ideas out there, you can do a search on the internet.

We have each teacher who wants to participate have a theme basket for their classroom like Barbie, Legos, trucks, pool party, Sponge Bob, summer fun, reading etc. A big hit is our "Principal for a day" where the winner gets to tag around with our principal, do am announcments over the intercom etc and help her do her job. I have seen tutoring baskets offered from teachers as well.

Our church does a silent auction and many of the items are baskets. In my opionon, baskets are better for auctions instead of raffles, because the baskets are usually of special interests.

Make the baskets a big as possible. Make sure they are attractive, wrapped with cellophane and bows.

Possible themes: Movies, scrapbooking supplies, candles, picnic, books, Starbucks. You can also get some good baskets from members of your PTO, esp. if they are representatives for Tupperware, Avon, etc.

Best of luck to you!
Sandra


Step By Step Fundraising Ideas

We are doing a themed basket raffle for our carnival this year. Here's the ideas we came up with:

airplanes, animals, art supplies, baby items, bathtime, boats, books, bulldogs (thats our mascot), camping, candles, cats, chocolate, coca-cola, coffee, cookbooks, crafts, dogs, dolls, easter, fishing, gardening, gift certificates, gold, handyman items, hearts, house cleaning supplies, ice cream, john deere (I live in Indiana), Kitchen gadgets, manicures, m&m's, movies, patriotic, photography, poetry, pooh bear, racing, school supplies, seweing, scrapbooking, small toys, snacks, snowmen, spas, spongebob, sports, stationary, teddy bears

lol i hope that helps

Spring Basket, with books on spring, rainy day activities, flower seeds. Summer basket- sunblock, swim toys. Sports basket, Fishing Basket (if you have several fishermen around). I REALLY like the bath and body ones. I don't know when Easter is this year but if you event is before that you could have an Easter Basket.