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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    news article

    Creative summer fundraisers for Africa 360

    August 5, 2015 / By Laurel O'Connor / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    It’s easy to fundraise – and “friend-raise”– in the summertime. On mild evenings, your neighbors are already spending time outside. In the heat of the day, they’re looking for indoor activities they can do with their kids. You might have a chance to meet them at a local festival or parade. Don’t let this opportunity slip by!

    Here are a few easy ways to raise money and awareness in your neighborhood for Africa 360 – the Upper New York Conference’s holistic plan for health and education initiatives in Africa – as the summer wraps up.

    1. Participate in a local festival. For example, the Rethinking Missions Team from the Syracuse Urban Churches is participating in the Westcott Street Cultural Fair on Sept. 20. They’ll hand out wristbands and flyswatters and “clearing the net” of mosquitos to raise funds.
    2. Set up a lemonade stand at a busy street corner, festival, or parade.
    3. Camp out on the church lawn under bed nets. Click here to find instructions.
    4. Here’s an idea from the Medina United Methodist Church: Count your mosquito bites every Sunday and make a “thanks offering” for each one because those bites can’t give you malaria. Just imagine how profitable this could be if combined with a campout!
    5. Be a part of a local parade. Picture a giant mosquito on top of a pickup truck or covered in mosquito netting. Once people’s curiosity is piqued and information distributed, invite them to a fundraising dinner or other fun event. Several churches in the Conference have already sent pastors and leaders out in mosquito costumes – what fun along a parade route!
    6. Host a barbecue for the neighborhood. You could charge admission, but a goofier way to raise money is by making it a competition. Ask each person to bring their favorite summer picnic recipe, and then vote with your dollars for which dish is the most delicious. Make sure to have an awesome prize for the winner. Remember to set up games – including a balloon toss, watermelon seed-spitting contest, or a cornhole tournament – for the kids.
    7. If you don’t have air conditioning, you can beat the heat by taking refuge in a bowling alley. A bowl-a-thon can be very successful as a way for people of all ages to get involved.

    TAGGED / Connectional Ministries


    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."