Need ideas for "food bank" gift basket for raffle

[ADisneyQueen]

My daughter has to make a raffle gift basket for the charity she is representing- a local food bank. They will have these baskets out at an event and the money will go to all the charities. I guess we'll just put food in it and maybe a grocery gift card. I don't know whether to put in food that the food pantry says they need or something else.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

If it is for a raffle, does it have to represent the charity? Otherwise, I would just do one that would attract bidders.

 

[cornflake]

You're looking to garner money from people buying tickets because they want the basket. I wouldn't put in like, tinned beans and Kraft dinner.

Make it snazzy - good chocolates, treats, nuts, really good cookies, teas and coffees, etc. Then if the winner gives it to the food bank, bonus but presuming they won't, they get something worth buying raffle tickets for.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Yeah, I'd put in things people would want, not needs.

Maybe some specialty sauces, marinades, olives, etc. If you're adding things other than food, maybe a set of pretty napkins, some bamboo spoons, an apron, etc. Could get pretty pricey, though.

 

[scrapquitler]

My daughter has to make a raffle gift basket for the charity she is representing- a local food bank. They will have these baskets out at an event and the money will go to all the charities. I guess we'll just put food in it and maybe a grocery gift card. I don't know whether to put in food that the food pantry says they need or something else.

I would say something else. If it's a raffle basket, then the food inside will be going to the person who wins the raffle, not the food bank. I think your best bet is to go with a theme of some sort. I'll give you a couple of ideas, get creative and add some more stuff that you think of.

Italin theme: Boxes of Pasta, Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Good Quality Jar Spaghetti Sauce (Rao for example), jarred olives, roasted peppers, some placemats and napkins, etc. Here are some pictures of Italian Theme gift baskets to give you additional ideas:http://www.gourmetgiftbaskets.com/Italian-Gift-Baskets.asp
http://www.gourmetgiftbaskets.com/Italian-Gift-Baskets.asp

Ice Cream Sundae Gift Basket: Ice cream dishes and spoons (or Ice Cream Soda Glasses), hot fudge sauce, butterscotch sauce, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, gummy bears, chopped nuts, etc. and a gift certificate for a local ice cream place to buy the ice cream

Breakfast Basket: Something along these lines:http://www.amazon.com/England-Breakfast-Gift-Basket-Standard/dp/B001F8ITLI Jellies/jams, muffin mix, pancake mix, bacon, maple syrup, cloth napkins, coffee,

A baby food one. It could include baby 'snacks', cereals, jarred food, some dishes/forks/sippy cups/a bib or burp cloth. You could use soemthing like a tote bag or a toy bin as the basket

Snack Baskets: This page shows some great themed snack baskets geared towards guys. I like the football one with the Doritos and stuff. I'd incorporate the local team somehow (using the colors in the wrapping and maybe a pennant or something) and I'd get as creative as possible with the basket/container (a cooler for a guys snack one, for example).

I think the more you can play up the theme (and of course include lots of food!) the more appealing the basket will be. You can take ideas from several of these themes and combine them or use local products.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Thanks! great ideas I will pass on to her.

What about a fall themed basket? What would you put in there?

 

[scrapquitler]

Thanks! great ideas I will pass on to her.

What about a fall themed basket? What would you put in there?

Fall theme: Apples! A pie plate, apples, apple placemats, apple butter, apple cider, applesauce, etc

Muffins: baking dish, various muffin mixes, a mixing bowl, a pretty towel, coffee, jellies

 

[hambirg]

I would suggest a non-food basket. I used to chair my kids' school benefit auction. Go to local businesses and see if you can get donations. Start there. Whatever you get, build the basket around that.

Spa baskets are very popular. . .think gift certificates to a local salon, nail parlor, massage therapist, and then add in some items from Bath and Body Works.

If you can get pizzas certificates (Dominoes used to give me 10 certificates every year) you can do a movie night, poker party, Superbowl party or birthday party basket. Just add in more items to go with those themes.

Every year someone made a menopause basket that was always a big hit.

ETA- One year I had a dog trainer give me a certificate. My vet also gave flea meds. Any time I was out and about and found dog items, like at Target, on clearance, I bought them and added them to the basket. I ended up with a pretty nice puppy basket.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

For those who asked- it has to represent the charity which is the local food bank. So it has to be food.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My daughter has to make a raffle gift basket for the charity she is representing- a local food bank. They will have these baskets out at an event and the money will go to all the charities. I guess we'll just put food in it and maybe a grocery gift card. I don't know whether to put in food that the food pantry says they need or something else.

I am partial to a "theme basket" so I might go with something like "country breakfast" with pancake, waffle, mixes or something along those lines.

Also, I know it has to be food however do not discount cooking utensils or pans, plates, aprons, etc as part of the basket to round it out.

Perhaps you can get inspired by Harry and David?

http://www.harryanddavid.com/gifts/store/gift____shop-gifts-by-type_gift-baskets

 

[tiggger1]

you could always do a pampered Chef basket...When I do donate a gift basket, I always do the small batter bowl, a scrapper, a recipe book and one of their new towels.. it only costs about $25-$30 to make and people love it!

 

[LaraK]

For a "fall" themed basket, a couple of thoughts:

A "Game Day" basket with napkins of your local football team, chips and dip making stuff.

A "chili" basket. Chili towels and chili makings (beans, rice, etc...)

A "Halloween" basket....lots of little candies heavy on the candy corn.

A "Home made cookie" basket....All the makings of your family's fav. cookies and the recipies to match.

 

[shortbun]

For those who asked- it has to represent the charity which is the local food bank. So it has to be food.

On the other hand, the representation could be clever. It could be a play on words or have a few cute 'banks' in it-piggy bank(literally a piggy bank), bank card(gift card of some kind), bank book( journal or best seller), bank roll(roll of coins or iced cinammon rolls), snow bank(ski gear or snow shovel), bank note(box of note cards) and so forth.

 

[hambirg]

For those who asked- it has to represent the charity which is the local food bank. So it has to be food.

OK, sorry. I misunderstood.

You know what might be fun? A farmer's market basket. Do you have a farmer's market? If you do, I would go to every booth and ask for a donation. That would make a interesting and varied basket.

Crockpot cooking is hot right now. Maybe a crockpot and a few cookbooks, then ask around for grocery store donations. Fred Meyer's and Costco were always generous with us when we asked.

We also used to get a lot of cookbooks donated. You can find a nice cookbook and build the basket around that. Say, an Italian cookbook with pasta, sauces, a colander, some wine, etc.