Prism99

I had to look up Chinese auction on Wikipedia. It's like a raffle, except there are multiple prizes and each prize has its own bowl to collect tickets. You buy tickets and place them in the raffle bowl(s) of your choice. The more tickets you place in a bowl, the better your chances of winning that particle prize.

Origin of the term is probably from "chance auction" rather than the country of China.

Tulip

Chinese auctions are a great fundraiser! Rabbit shows across the nation use this idea and generate a great deal of money. Also, many community organizations will donate and themed baskets are a big draw at these auctions. At the rabbit shows, tickets are sold 20 for $5.00 or 3/$1.00. Items are numbered, paper lunch bags are then taped around the table with the item numbers written on them. At a specified time, each bag is taken down, shook and a number pulled out. The number is written on a large piece of posterboard that #/s 1-however many items you have.
Pie auctions also raise a great deal of attention.
Tulip

BluegrassGurl

oh...ok. I have participated in those... just didn't know it was called "Chinese Auction". Thanks for the explanation.

lol--- no problem 'okiepastor'

samifel

Kid's art show. Interaction between seniors and kids is great, talent night, we did a "World's Fair" where we picked a year and everyone picked a character and did a display and dressed up. We charged a few bucks at the door. What about "Senior College" where people pay a few bucks and learn to write an autobiography, or learn local history, or juggling, or whatever. We have done it where people come and bring their lunch. Book clubs work well this way. Also Checker Tournaments, or chess. We do Soup ad Poetry a couple times a year. Everyone is welcome, soups are donated and a donation bucket is passed around. Everyone stands up and shares original poetry or favorite published poetry. I hope this helps.

oatw13

Our Senior center holds annual plant sales, book sales, and rummage sales. All the items are donated by the local businesses or community members.

They advertise in the local paper, on Craigslist/ Freecycle, in church bulletins, and the local HOA newsletters both for donations and to advertise the sales.

They usually have a bake sale in conjunction with the sales.

Maride

Bunko

Is easy to learn and completely unpredictable. I love it.

sewgull

50/50 raffle. Sell tickets and the winner gets half of ticket(pot) sales and the Senior center gets other half of the pot.

oksewglad

The local library has a silent auction every fall. Library friends donate articles (crafts, books, evenings out, etc.). A sheet of lined paper is attached to each article. Bidders write their auction number and price. If someone else wants to up the bid he/she writes their number and price on the next line. This could be held in a public place--church or bank lobby, at a local craft show, etc.

trisha

Have people bring stuff in and have an auction, local business can also donate items.

smagruder

How about a crafts fair.... Here in Louisville, Ky, a retirement community ( Assisted Living) holds one every year. People in the community make their crafts and on a nice day in the spring or summer hold a crafts fair. Outsiders can rent a space. There were a lot of outsiders who "rented" a space. It is held outside on the property. This gives those who live in the community facility something to do that they love and a way for them to make a little money. They get a small return on what they sell, but most of it goes to the facility. Their share usually allows them to purchase supplies to start for the next year. I don't know how much they make but it is a great way to keep them active and give them something to look forward to each year.