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Cheap and Quick

Don't have the time or energy to hold an atheltic event? There are things you can do that take very little effort.

Stamps- In the UK at least (Akibe is getting confirmation from charities in other countries) the MND Association accepts donations of used stamps which they sell to collectors. Cut them off envelopes and postcards, store them in an envelope, and then you have a nice collection, send them off.

Address:
FAO Mr Mick Paine, Motor Neurone Disease Association, PO Box 246, Northampton, NN1 2BR

Mobile phones- Again, the MNDA in the UK accepts old mobile phones, for each one donated they get around £3.50, it's not much, but it helps.

Jewellery- Got a lot of jewellery that you never wear? An earring where the other one is missing, an old watch, a damaged bracelet, stick them in a padded envelope and send them to the Alzheimer's Society, they can convert them in to funds!

Address:
Alzheimer's Society, Freepost SW8 743, Gordon House, London, SW1P 1YY

Coin jar- If you're anything like me, your purse or wallet is often filled with low-denomination coins, 1p, 2p, 5 cent pieces etc etc. Get a jar, put it in an obvious place, and every few weeks clear our the low-value clutter and stick it in the jar. At the end of the year, count it up, take it to the bank, and send a cheque to charity.

Fun!

Scooter Race- Get a bunch of people together, get some scooters, everyone pays a few $/£ to enter, see if any local businesses will donate a few prizes (to get more people to enter) and then...race! Big thanks to pormogo for this suggestion!

Raffle- Collect some prizes (or get people to donate them, if you do it after Christmas you can generally get some decent but unwanted Christmas presents from people), and get a packet of coloured numbered tickets. Sell them at say 25p each, or 5 for £1 (50 cents each/5 for $2), then on the day put all the duplicate copies in a basket or hat, and have a big public draw. People get to come up and choose their prizes, but their number has to be drawn first.

Lucky Dip- Generally better for kids as you can get some nice cheap things. Get a box and fill it with sawdust. Put some prizes in, good ones like bars of chocolate but also odd little ones like a 10p yoyo you got from a Christmas cracker. Charge 50p for people to stick their hands in and have a rummage for a prize. Generally everyone gets something, it's the value that's the "problem".