Everyone is familiar with the perennial lemonade stand in the summer. Ever considered it’s counterpart for those wintry months when strollers need to warm up rather than cool down?
Christmas is over, the New Year is here, and the race begins back to the malls for gift returns and after-holiday specials. Talk about the perfect timing for a Hot Chocolate Stand Fundraiser! Why not take this opportunity to raise money for your elementary school by selling hot chocolate. Remember, winter temps continue to ice these return shopper’s noses red!
Target the stores in your area that have the highest foot traffic volume. Obvious choices are discount stores and supermarkets. If you live in a smaller town with a busy downtown area, pick several strategic spots with the most activity. Another perfect spot would be a pedestrian friendly town square.
Your committee can round up long tables and cover them with festive New Year’s plastic or paper cloths. Find stores willing to donate Styrofoam cups, lids, napkins, and stir sticks. Don’t forget chairs for the volunteers and large coffee maker pots to keep the hot chocolate—hot! (If possible, choose spots with accessible electrical outlets.) Charge a little extra for whipped cream, marshmallows and/or mint flavoring.
Have an organized plan to collect the cash received and enough small change to break larger bills. Assign one person with good bookkeeping skills the job of overseeing the cash flow for your Hot Chocolate Stand Fundraiser.
Children can be put to work making funny, colorful signs for each location including extra signs placed around parking lots. If the store is agreeable, ask if a few of the children can walk around inside the store carrying signs to help drum up business.
Encourage the children to illustrate their signs with pictures of steaming hot chocolate and even depictions of New Year’s decorations. They can also help with trash duty (in case cups are carelessly dropped on the ground instead of into the trash receptacles you provide.)
A Hot Chocolate Stand Fundraiser wouldn’t be the same without cookies made from delicious cookie dough. Most moms may have plenty on hand at home already baked for the holidays. Other freshly made treat ideas that go well with rich, hot chocolate are almond biscotti or simple rice-crispie bars. (Whatever goodies you can round up and that you think will sell, go for it!)
Don’t worry about all those empty pockets after Christmas. When people are cold and tired, they will find whatever spare cash they need to make your Hot Chocolate Stand Fundraiser a roaring success!
