Creative Basket Donation Ideas for Charity Galas - Tips and Inspiration

[sklay723]

So I've been asked by a friend to donate a basket to a local charity gala...I have to send in my paperwork next week telling them what will be in the basket. It has to be $50 retail value or higher to get a mention in their sponsor program. Any ideas of some things I can put together? I was thinking a Classic Batter Bowl and a Mix N Scraper, maybe some of the cinnamon blend, or a pizza stone and cutter, along those lines. I even thought maybe just putting together a bouquet of fun tools, like the Mix N Masher, Mix N Chop, etc. I have two fundraisers out right now and I thought I would just add an order to one of them to help them out, too...that way I'm making a difference twice.

I basically want whatever I put together to have a nice "display" appearance, since it will be in a silent auction at the gala. They also told me I can put a stack of business cards with it, and some catalogs...very good opportunity to get some new customers, or so I hope. Any ideas y'all might have would be greatly appreciated...I need to make a big splash!

 

[chefann]

Beer bread is good, because it's a large box, but not pricey, so it adds to the presence of your basket without adding a lot of cost.

 

[PCGINA]

Katie ~

Make sure you put a biz card with each product (especially boxes) because people have a tendency to give the product away to others as gifts. This way you touch more people with your biz.

I like adding some of the following to my baskets:

Dots towels
Recipe cards
spices
M n C
M n M
Garlic Press
Citrus Press
Cookbooks
Pizza Crust
Beer Bread (as Ann said)
Micro Cookers
and anything that I earned for FREE !!

Good Luck

~G~

 

[Koolotus]

I usually do some products that I have around and a Gift certificate redeemable through me for $50 bucks. I also put in a catalog. That way I have contact with the one who wins
***I also don't have to worry about paying for the GC till they call me.

 

[straitfan]

I did a charity silent auction last weekend and I donated a trifle bowl which I had filled with pastel M&M's and Hershey's kisses. (purchased 1/2 price after Easter to keep the expense down.) It took 4 bags of M&M's and 2 Bags of kisses. I sorted them out by color and then layered them, with the kisses in the middle , then did more layers of M&M's. Tied a pastel bow around it. It went for $67! I bought the trifle bowl 60% in Feb.! Not really a "basket" but it got lot's of attention. (Maybe you could use ribbon to make a "handle" over the top so it looks basket-y

 

[PamperedDor]

Beer bread is good, because it's a large box, but not pricey, so it adds to the presence of your basket without adding a lot of cost.

I just put that in a basket we are doing for a chinese auction at my kids school - Make sure you stamp or label the back of the box.... (reorders! )

I like to do themes if I do a basket - so right now I would go with outdoor theme - maybe some BBQ stuff - outdoor plates - rubs - QSP...

 

[aried]

Good idea on the beer bread mix. I am putting together a basket for a relay for life team silent auction that I am doing a fundraiser catalog show for.
I did the cooking for 2 cookbook and chipotle rub, moroccan rub and mix in scraper. I put my sticker on the beer bread, rubs and cookbook. All things I had extra of.

Ann R.

 

[Kitchen2u]

You got some great ideas for "things" here. But one thing I ALWAYS attached to my basket is a poster (letter size) "Congratulations you won....and list all the things "PLUS you won a free party vlued as high as $25 (I pay to the ingredients, microwave cake and paper goods).

 

[vwpamperedchef]

What about a Gift certificate redeemable only thru you?

 

[LBurke]

I did a charity silent auction last weekend and I donated a trifle bowl which I had filled with pastel M&M's and Hershey's kisses.

I love this trifle bowl idea... I gave one to my aunt for Christmas filled with wine and cheese and it was a huge hit with everyone there! Great presentation, great product... you could fill it with smaller PC stuff... spices, beer bread, a cookbook, catalog, GC redeemable through you, etc!

 

[straitfan]

It really was pretty. Last fall there were lots of ideas for lining it with a towel and making it into a gift. Deb Lily (Oprah's stylist) demo'ed several ideas at NC, and of course the party in a bowl was our big OPRAH moment with no mention of PC!

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Get some address labels with your phone number and web site ... put them on the back of a catalog and a season's Best ...

A batter bowl is a nice addition to a basket ... you can put stuff in that as well.

Multiple items make more of a splash than just one ... so I'd do the batter bowl and toss in some smaller items like those mentioned.

 

[chefann]

The GC is a good idea, because you're not out any money if they don't actualy redeem it, but something tangible will get more bids and make a better presentation on a table. Whatever you decide to do, include a catalog, the upcoming specials and a personal thank you note. And put a big bow on it to dress it up.

 

[sklay723]

My "sensible" DH pointed out that I have an extra Food Chopper (had one from before I was a consultant that was broken, so I got the replacement in the mail a couple of months ago and forgot all about it!). So I have a Food Chopper to donate, and it won't cost me a dime. What would match up well with that in a gift basket? I love all the ideas I've gotten so far, I am just trying to brainstorm a few extra things because I'm placing my order Sunday and I want to make sure I've thought it through well enough...thanks as always for your suggestions!!! I could even keep it simple, just do the chopper and another item or two, then a catalog and a gift certificate to meet the "donation requirement" for mentioning in the sponsor program...

 

[pjpamchef]

Bar board, Handy Scraper, Adj easy read MC

 

[sklay723]

Good ideas...I went ahead and ordered the cranberry bar board and paring knife set off the outlet, as well as the cranberry handy scraper. I'm going to order a set of the cranberry towels (the set of two) and line the basket with those, then put in a catalog "standing up" in the back, with the food chopper and the other two items in front of it. I'll design a custom $25 gift certificate on my computer, and then add that in. Wrap it in cellophane shrink wrap and top with a cranberry colored bow. So excited!!!