Spring is in the air, and it’s the perfect time to take to the great outdoors to make some money for your playspace. Take advantage of warm weather and spring cleaning urges with these three fundraisers. Clean out your kids’ closets with the children’s clothes and toy sale, give Spot a good scrub with a dog wash, and have a “running of the ducks” at a local lake or creek.

Children’s Clothes & Toys Sale
Children grow out of their clothes and toys so quickly that they barely have enough time to break them in. Have a play clothes and toy sale with items donated from community members. Parents will have the opportunity to purchase play clothes and games for their children to use in their new playspace!

Prep Steps:
1. Send flyers asking for donations of “gently used” children’s and maternity clothes, toys, sporting equipment, and furniture.
2. Determine where the sale will take place.  A parking lot is ideal if the weather is nice, or try a gym if it rains.
3. Inventory all the items to be sold and their prices.
4. Recruit enough volunteers so you have several working in each area.
5. Advertise. Advertise. Advertise.

Materials Needed:
1. Clothes and other items to sell.
2. Inventory list.
3. Cash box.
4. Flyers that include a donation request

Helpful Hints:
• You may be able to obtain more items if you have your sale over a fall or spring weekend.  Many people are cleaning their houses and closets at this time.
• If your event is outside, have a plan for inclement weather.
• Bags, receipts, and gift tags are all nice touches to add to your sale!

Dog Wash
Pamper your dog (and others) at the Dog Wash! Collect donations for your playspace while enhancing the canine community!

Prep Steps:
1. Ask a local pet store for a donation of shampoo, brushes, and combs.
2. Ask a local hardware or gardening store and ask for a donation of several water hoses and buckets. You could also ask community members to loan their hoses and buckets for the day.
3. Determine where the dog wash will take place.
4. Make sure the site has access to waterspouts.
5. Advertise your dog wash at veterinarians’ offices, at local dog parks and pet stores.

Materials Needed:
1. Buckets
2. Shampoo
3. Flyers
4. Water hoses
5. Towels
6. Dog combs

Helpful Hints:
• Consider using your local school or church parking lot for the dog wash.
• Ask the local pet store for gift certificate donations for your dog wash raffle.
• This is a terrific volunteer activity for animal-loving older youth!

TIP!: Advertise at a local dog park on a Saturday morning!  You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the number of dirty dogs!

Running of the Ducks
A great springtime activity!  Plastic duckies are sold to the public, and then all released on a stretch of a local river.  First “ducky” to cross the finish line wins!

Don’t live near a running river?  That’s ok!  You can hold a Tennis Ball race.  Just use tennis balls instead, and release them down a nearby hill.

Prep Steps:
1.Get support from authorities in the area to use the local river or hill for an afternoon.
2.Find a wholesale supplier of rubber duckies or balls.
3.Sell “Duckies” or balls to the public (Suggested price=$15-25)
4. Clearly mark duckies or balls with a permanent pen, so you’ll be able to match it up with the winner!
5.   All ducks or balls are released at the same time and the first one to cross the finish line wins a prize.

Materials Needed:
1. Rubber duckies
2. Permanent markers
3. Loud speaker/megaphone
4. Prizes

Helpful Hints:
This is a great event to pair with a food sale or festival.