Southeast Texas Circle Of Hope is a large group of giving volunteers. A substantial number of our volunteers will be at each benefit that we host but they cannot do it all. We also have resources that we reach out to regularly for donations of links, boudin, soft drinks, water, bread, foil wraps, paper towels, propane, auction items, raffle items, printing, etc. but we cannot expect those resources to come through every single time.
We go into each benefit knowing that whatever happens, happens and whatever funds we raise, we raise. That said, we’ve come up with a list of ideas and some expectations for the family and friends of our beneficiaries. These things will help ensure that the benefit that we host will be even more successful.
We need participation from family and friends and this participation can come in a variety of ways.
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Attend meetings to see what it’s all about. Relay information back to other family and friends and encourage them to come to the meetings. We don’t know everything. We know a lot but we’re ALWAYS learning something new.
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Get on our email list and text message notification list and get your friends and family on it as well. We usually only send out one weekly email and one text a week and we won’t share our lists with anyone.
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Pre-sell dinners or links, raffle tickets, t-shirts, etc. Get some tickets or order forms from us and sell them at work, school or church.
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Share, Share, Share. Any post that you see about the benefit, just Share it. It only takes a second and the more we get the word out, the better. We probably have a lot of friends in common but we also have a lot of friends NOT in common and those are the ones that our volunteers can’t reach without your help.
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Use the Invite button on the benefit Event page and click through your friends list. You’d be surprised how many of those friends will show up and ask for a link and a drink, hand you a $20, a $50 or a $100 bill and say, “Keep the change.”
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Distribute flyers. We’ll give you all the flyers you want. Post them at high traffic businesses like grocery store bulletin boards, donut shops, restaurants, etc.
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Baked goods. Can you make a couple dozen cookies or cupcakes or can you bake a cake or pie or even pick some up at HEB or Market Basket? They usually sell well all day long.
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If we’re doing an auction at the benefit, organize individuals to solicit donations. We can use just about anything in an auction. A $5 Gift Card from Sonic, Mani/Pedi gift certificate, crosses, wall hangings, fire pits, BBQ pits, handmade patio chairs, tool sets, wine baskets, booze/beer/etc. to make a wheelbarrow full of fun, vacation rentals like beach or lake cabins… You get the idea. Anything goes. Except for used/garage sale type stuff. That stuff never goes over well. New and unused items are the best.
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This is an important one. On the day of the benefit we need you to help us to get people there who want to donate or spend money on these items. We need generous people with deep pockets. There’s more out there than you think. They just need to hear about it from you and your friends and family.
Surely there are more ways for you to help. Suggest something to us. We’ll listen. We’re always willing to listen to new ideas.