Dolly,

I have a general letter I send to everyone. I suppose I should be asking for specific items depending on whom I am asking, but I don't. Last year one donated a simple will. Most lawyers ignore my request.

Suzie

Susie

You have inspired me to get busy! What do you ask lawyers to donate? their services?

Robin,

I am assuming that “ideas for Cleveland” means that you are looking for places who donate in Cleveland?

I am going to tell you how I got donations for my auction. What I am going to tell you is going to be a lot of work, but work is what it takes to get donations. I spent every free second of more than month gathering email addresses of local businesses. I sent them a nice email with my donation letter attached. None of this is a guarantee. Some say yes, others no, even more don't bother to reply. But the more people you contact, the more chance you have of getting donations.

The way I see it is if someone is advertising their business, they are looking for new customers. A donation could be a way for them to bring in new business, if they see it that way, so why not contact them? All of that junk mail you get in the way of postcards and brochures? Look up their business and email address. The valpak or money mailer coupons you get? More businesses to contact. In the car and see a billboard or poster stuck in the ground? Pass an interesting business? More names for you.

What I do is use my best friend google to see if the business has a website (not all do). If there is a "contact us" link, there should be an email address there. If they only have a form to fill out, I fill it out and ask a question like "are you open on Sundays" or "do you accept competitor's coupons?" When they reply to you ... bam, you have their email address. If there is a facebook page, if their address is listed on the left side, click on it, and if they have an email address, it should be right there.

Again using google, I type in my town name and an activity (ie martial arts Cleveland). If it is something that isn't as common in town, I use my county (ie golf course Cuyahoga County). What you end up with is a list of businesses with links to their webpages, where you can look for more email addresses. Examples of what I try to find is: gym, health club, spa, massage, hair salon, nail salon, waxing, tanning, chiropractor, acupuncture, lawyer, billiards, boxing, golf, mini golf, roller skating, ice skating, trampoline/jump, birthday party, yoga, rock climbing, dance studio, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, corn maze, skiing, cupcake shop, bakery, pilates, car wash, ceramics ... and there are so many more.

Again, this is all very time consuming. I have received donations from 5-10 percent of these places. If you are lucky, you may get more.

I have a lovely volunteer who took letters in person to the businesses who didn’t respond or who didn’t have an email address. Yes, she walked the streets for days, delivering letters. And pleading our cause. That’s what it takes.

Suzie

Thanks Rose C. I've posted a lot on FB and social media. I've also tried to hang flyers up wherever I can but without help it's a job in itself (as I'm sure yo know!). I've also posted in Tricky Tray.com and seem to have gotten a lot of our leads from that website. Was hoping there was something else I missed LOL

Thanks again!

WE also have received the 5 night stay in Mexico from Premium Vacations and are trying to decide if or how to use it. I have read some reviews and it seems the time share aspect is sometimes pushed a little hard, making guest uncomfortable. Would be interested in hearing from others who have used it and any feedback they may have received. I keep hearing from some sources "If it sounds too good to be true, it may be too good to be true".

WE are preparing for our 27th annual Holiday Bazaar at church outside Charlotte, NC. - Sat. NOv. 22 I"ve found if I do my homework - sending out e-mail, fax, and calling on the local businesses - then it works out fine in the end. WE had over 200 silent auction items last year. Trying to reach outside the box this year and feel confidant we will have at least as many. Am learning that just because a business gave last year it doesn't mean they will do the same this year.

Question-
We received a donation of a 5 night stay in Mexico from Premier Cancun vacations. After checking out the hotels on tripadvisor, we have found they are about a 3 star place, have mixed reviews. has anyone had experience with them in the past? I would hate for a family to have a terrible time at a prize they got from us...