Nickels for Nails is the youth-led fundraising component of Youth United, an initiative that mobilizes youth ages 5-25 to fully fund and build a Habitat home. Thousands of students, teachers, parents, and youth workers in the Los Angeles area have been engaging in fun community building activities to raise funds for the Youth United Habitat home! It’s easy to help, and even the youngest child can understand the purpose, as the jar fills up and the kids receive updates on the house being built.This is a wonderful opportunity for students to see how donating extra nickels can make a life-altering difference for a deserving family.
Teachers, youth group coordinators and students who sign up will recieve a coin collection container for their classroom, along with a how-to guide about starting a successful fund drive. Teachers can also recieve special curriculum to educate their students about the growing housing crisis in Califorina and how everyone can help the cause.
Nickels for Nails Fundraising Ideas:
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Create your own blog or Facebook page for your school, class, or group where friends and family can easily share Habitat stories and donate online.
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Start a fund drive to collect spare change by placing coin jars in your classrooms, schools, scout troop meetings, boys and girls clubs, family affiliated businesses, or at home. Encourage competition between different classes, grades, troops, clubs, neighbors, families. Ask a local pizza or ice cream parlor to donate a gift certificate to the winners.
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Hold a bake sale, craft or art fair to sell or auction off projects created by the young students. This can easily be done by finding a community event already happening – a county fair, farmer’s market, sidewalk sale, church event - and asking to have a space to sell items.
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Host a house building contest using LEGOs or recyclable building materials (popsicle sticks, paper bags or boxes). Each house is then voted on by placing a donation jar in front of each entry. The house that earns the most money wins.
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Start a recycling drive for cans, bottles, or plastic materials with funds going towards Habitat.
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Have a car wash in your neighborhood, at your church, or school.
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Host a talent show, concert, or comedy event with a suggested donation at the door.
For more information on how to get started with these or other Nickels for Nails projects, contact the Youth United coordinator, Jesseca at (818) 884-8808 or by emailing: JWoywod@HumanityCA.org.
