Fundraising Season
Fall is not just back to school time; it's back to sell
time. For the past month and a half I've been either putting my hand out
for donations (middle school music program, walk to raise awareness for suicide
prevention) or doling out money (Boy Scouts, annual church stewardship drive,
school beautification). I swear people are starting to run away from me
when they see me!
Yesterday we wrapped up the
school music program fundraiser. I've been raising money for the school
music program since I was a kid. "Back in the day" I toted
candy bars (always popular at school) and sold/made hoagies (also known as subs
or heroes). Now a days (at least in the middle school program...in my day
it was only the high school that did fundraising, but back then the middle
school music program was not as strong), there is the annual
"Cheesecake" sale. Now we don't just peddle cheesecake, there
are a variety of cakes, piece and cookie doughs, but it is the focus. And
there is also an online store where alternative/non-edible purchases can be
made. This is serious stuff.
Can you guess what I've been
doing for the past two weeks? Yes, I'VE been selling cheesecake. That is
NOT to say that my son has not being doing his share as well, but they tell you
not to go door to door. He did visit several neighbors to get some
orders. He also made his own "unique" announcement about the
sale at church and the two of us stood at a table during coffee hour to drum up
some business. (The plan was to do it for two Sundays, but the first
Sunday, after he made the announcement, he had his first confirmation class
which ran over time and by the time we were finished everyone was pretty much
done with coffee hour. And the girl from the next town over had
successfully sold several cheesecakes which goes toward her high school music
program! Same stuff, same time EVERY year...I'd like to think it's a
friendly competition.) But as the "mom" I'll admit I did most
of the "selling."
I sent out emails to friends
locally. I sent out different emails to friends who were NOT local (this
is where the on line store comes into play.) I brought in the catalog to
my office and got the word out. I brought the catalog with me to my choir
rehearsal (church) and to the thrift shop where I volunteer. And of
course, I made it known on social media as well. Yes, I was selling,
Selling, SELLING!
All this leads up to last night
where I had to total everything up. I make up my own spreadsheet because
the one we are given to make sales never has enough lines. (Plus this way I can
save the sheet electronically from year to year and pull it up with ease.
"Would you like what you ordered last year? It was chocolate chunk
cookie dough and still only costs $16") However, I ALWAYS make an
error somewhere and can NEVER figure out what I've done wrong. I check my
sums. I check my spreadsheet. My husband checks things. This
went on for an hour last night. (I didn't help that I had a splitting
headache from sitting in traffic for an hour and a half that evening.)
Finally my husband noted that I had put down 2 pumpkin pies, when I had 3
sold. That made things somewhat better but my total was still off by
$20. Since there was one item that sold for that amount (cheesecake drop
anyone?), I knew I had missed one. Another review and FINALLY everything
matched up. All that was left was for me to write one GIGANTIC check.
(They don't want a million checks floating around; I totally get that. So
every purchase had to be either cash or a check made out to me.) That
wiped out the checking account!
One fundraiser down! I'm
still taking donations for the American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention. (Walk is next Sunday...hoping for a warmish, sunny weekend
because no one likes to walk in the rain AND the day before my son and
his friends are supposed to paint a Halloween theme on a local business's front
window AND if it rains that day the rain date is...Sunday! Church, window
painting and walking all in one day IS pushing it a little. I'm keeping
my fingers crossed!) And Stewardship/Pledge Sunday is just one week after
that. (Hope the checkbook has recovered by then!) Then it's all
over...
Until November...when those
cheesecakes arrive...30 orders. To be organized by customer and address. To be
delivered all over town. I guess it's not over after all...is it ever???
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