oh, DISers, you wealth of info....

[MomNeedsVacay]

Can you all give me ideas for items for a class gift basket? The theme is "Family Night"....this basket is to be auctioned off alongside other themed baskets...these baskets usually go for $150-200 ---so it can't be too cheapy. So far, I was thinking including movies and board games...but I'm stumped !!! I need more ideas--BIG ideas. Thanks so much for any help!!!

 

[maelstrom]

I was going to suggest a Wii game, but I guess not every family would have a Wii. Board games and movies are good. How about some popcorn or other snacks to go with the movies? A book of mad-libs?

 

[RunningGirl]

Can you do a Netflix gift certificate for a 6 month membership? If you do the lowest price on that's about $53.

 

[okeydokey]

Gift certificate to the local pizza place for take out so you could get right to the fun and games.

 

[akcire]

I was just at a function on Saturday that had some similar auction items.

One that was a BIG hit--had a Sesame Street copy of Monopoly, 4-5 medium sized plush, and a Sesame St. DVD. It was really cute, and I know lots of people bid on it...it sold for more than $300.

Using the same idea you could do a Disney theme....there are Disney specific copies of some Hasbro games. I know we own Sorry that is based on the water ride in MK. I know that Toys R Us has Princess Chutes & Ladders.

If your kids are older....I think a Lego basket would be a big hit. Around here they are crazy popular. I donated some Lego sets to our local animal shelter and they sold for more than two times the retail cost.

Or a winter outdoor basket: snowman kit, plastic snow block maker, snowball maker thing, kids set of snow shoes--things which would be fun, but you may not normally buy.

You can pretty much make any theme into a basket. Like a winter hula theme. Hot cocoa, hula hoops, grass skirts, a hula DVD

Another basket that did well had 5 or 6 $25 gift cards to a bunch of local restaurants. I think it was called "dine around town", it also sold for $300+

Hope those ideas help

 

[SandrA9810]

what about a couple pillow pets? You know so the kids can get comfy on the floor or couch. And a blanket for mom and dad to snuggle under.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I was just at a function on Saturday that had some similar auction items.

One that was a BIG hit--had a Sesame Street copy of Monopoly, 4-5 medium sized plush, and a Sesame St. DVD. It was really cute, and I know lots of people bid on it...it sold for more than $300.

Using the same idea you could do a Disney theme....there are Disney specific copies of some Hasbro games. I know we own Sorry that is based on the water ride in MK. I know that Toys R Us has Princess Chutes & Ladders.

If your kids are older....I think a Lego basket would be a big hit. Around here they are crazy popular. I donated some Lego sets to our local animal shelter and they sold for more than two times the retail cost.

Or a winter outdoor basket: snowman kit, plastic snow block maker, snowball maker thing, kids set of snow shoes--things which would be fun, but you may not normally buy.

You can pretty much make any theme into a basket. Like a winter hula theme. Hot cocoa, hula hoops, grass skirts, a hula DVD

Another basket that did well had 5 or 6 $25 gift cards to a bunch of local restaurants. I think it was called "dine around town", it also sold for $300+

Hope those ideas help

unfortunately, I was assigned this theme and can't change it..."Family Night" it is....

 

[okeydokey]

what about a couple pillow pets? You know so the kids can get comfy on the floor or couch. And a blanket for mom and dad to snuggle under.

The thing is you don't want to spend so much that it cuts too deep into profit. At our school here, the class donates stuff for the basket so it doesn't cost the school anything out of pocket.

Pillow pets would be cool though.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

My suggestion is a movie/game family fun basket.

Walmart and Target both have $5 movies so maybe you could find some family friendly movie there.

I would get some popcorn and candy packs to put in there. You could probably find some good stuff now cheap now that it's Halloween. (Not sure when you need it, but you maybe able to get some snack donations).

I would concentrate on games that are close to all ages like Trouble and Sorry. Also there are regular cards, Uno, and other fun types of cards. You could add traditional stuff like jacks, paddle boards, playdough.

 

[saffymom]

Gift certificate to the local pizza place for take out so you could get right to the fun and games.

I like this idea. Then add in the games and movies, and maybe some popcorn or movie candy like Junior Mints or Raisinets. I think that would make a great "Family Night".

 

[minniebeth]

For a lot of the auction baskets at the events we go to, gift cards seem to be the biggest hits. To go along with the Family Night theme, things I've seen: like others have said, games (include card type games/playing cards/poker chips), movies, popcorn and treats, gift cards for pizza and/or other restaurants, gift cards to a local dessert type place like ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc., gift cards to like a Game Stop place or Best Buy type place (to purchase or put towards video games).

We always ask for donations to put towards the baskets. First we go to the businesses directly. Then to the families of each class. Some families will donate the actual whole gift card, gift, etc. and some will donate what money they can and then it is combined to purchase the basket items.

Good Luck!

 

[golfgal]

What about a membership to a local zoo, museum, etc.?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Pizza gift certificates. Movie gift certificates. Cute plates, cutlery, and napkins for the pizza. 2-3 2lt bottles of soda. Pack of cards (or Uno). Cups. A fuzzy blanket (for the movie). Warm socks (4). Couple bags of popcorn and some bowls.

You could decorate the basket with some battery powered lights, string some popcorn, and make/find a plastic movie slate.

OR what about an evening picnic basket? Include stuff like frisbees, nerf football (and some flags), horseshoes. Again, do something for food and include all the plates/cutlery etc. Sunscreen. Flip flops. A picnic blanket.

HTH!

 

[stauncie]

What about your local skating rink? (roller, hockey, ice), movie theatre, bowling alley? local family y or pool? Tennis court? most of these places offer 'famiy' packages, could you get one(or more) of them to donate a family pass for the basket, then, add a game, or movie, with the same 'theme' as the pass??