The Beginning of an Idea...

We just had SAMmy's today, and we're trying to find ways to come up with our annual operating costs. It's expensive to come up with money for child care costs, and copies, coffee money and all that jazz. Ministry doesn't come free - that's for sure!
It's always a trick to try to find an idea for fundraising that the SAMmy's women will buy into enough to help out. Sometimes, if I present the idea wrong or it's not something they're excited about, I end up doing most of the work myself.
This Friday we're having a bake sale. The women LOVE to bake for bake sales! We get such a creative mix of wonderful treats! And, for 25 women we'll undoubtedly get an impressive amount of pies, bars, cookies and miscellaneous goodies. But, to sit outside of Super-Walmart and sell them for a few hours? It will be me and my two small group leaders, Bridgette and one other gal. That's it.

I planned to have a few of us bag groceries at a local store, with donation cans out for us, but that didn't fly...low participation. Lack of excitement there. Sigh.

So...this morning I pitched an idea to them that had to generate a lot of excitement because it was going to be planned for a Saturday in December...and I was asking them to give up prime holiday shopping time. I pitched a REALLY GOOD idea, though...wait for it...we are going to have "Mama's Secret Boutique!" Our church has agreed to give us the use of their banquet room, so we can open it up to the public. We're going to ask the ladies in my church (I go to a fairly large church)for donations of "fabulous things they don't love anymore" - gently used and like-new items in the following categories: Children (toys, DVD's, CD's, educational), Home Decor (candles, wall hangings, knick-knacks, picture frames, etc.), Accessories (Scarves, jewelry, sunglasses, watches, etc.), Kitchen (Gadgets, Dishes, Small Appliances, etc.), Entertainment (Books, DVD's, CD's, games, puzzles, etc.). Then, we are going to set up the banquet room to look like a boutique/store. We are going to advertise in the local paper: Come to "Mama's Secret Boutique" sponsored by Strength Among Moms Ministry. The secret is that the gift items are gently used and like-new...we won't tell! It's the fiscally savvy and environmentally responsible way to Christmas shop! Mom would approve!

Well, our SAMmy's women were all over this idea this morning! (I kind of figured they would be...bargains, shopping...) They had all sorts of ideas to add to the mix! I think this may be something, if it is successful, that is repeated annually. It may grow into a real money-maker. :) We can only hope.