Barnes and noble has a great program in which you can earn 15 or 20% of all purchases. Hold a family reading night there, supply reading lists for each age group to encourage kids to read and have teachers come after school for story time. You make a good profit.

Using local businesses is a great idea and it helps with less cleanup as well.

Can you use your gym or cafeteria at all for some of your events? If they are available for the kids to use during the day, they should be able to be used in the evening or on saturday's!

Ask your local Senior Center to use their space. Some developments have club houses for rent as well. does your local fire department, Elk's Club, American Veteran's club, etc. have a hall they rent out. Maybe they will be kind and give you a member price due to your situation.

When our school was under construction we moved our spring carnival to our local junior college. They let us use their gym and cafeteria. We also have a National Guard Armory that let us use their facility.

I agree with NJMom. Focusing on family events at local restaurants and amusement places is a good idea.

As far as bookfair - is there a local community library that might partner with you on an event and you could split the proceeds?

Is there a community center near the school or another school -perhaps the middle school into which you feed - that could be used? You might be able to make visiting the middle school a positive experience for your event plus a future look at the next level for the these families.

You could try to do family events like bowling or roller skating. Our local facilities will usually give us a good discount that we pass along to our families. Might not help too much if you are trying to fundraise but it will certainly be a great night out for everyone.

We also have an ice cream parlor that does school events. If we provide 'scoopers' they will give back 15% of sales to our PTO. We don't make much but the kids (and parents) have a blast!

This year our primary school is under construction. So half the school is litterally blocked off and absolutely ever room is being used.The dilema is that the workers will be working 2nd shift so the events we have planned are being cancelled. We had a Room Parents Tea and Ice Cream Social/Bookfair and our Santa Shoppe. Because the construction was delayed they are having to do this. UGH

Now I am trying to think of an event I could have off the school site so it won't interfere with construction. We are a school of 500. Does anyone have any suggestions?