I've held silent auctions. I've had some of the residents help make flower arrangements and I've also asked local businesses to give gift certificates and or products to add to the auctions. Once I have the items gathered I have put them in groups and sit them out on a table in the front foyer with the sheets for making bids. I have left them out for a week or two and then when it is over I call the highest bidder of each and they come pick up their items. I have a "bidding form" and a form typed out for businesses since a few needed a letter head to give a donation. Feel free to message me if you'd like [email protected]
When I was in the Nursing home industry as an Activity Director we would sell items to the staff and families. For example at Valentines Day we sold balloon Bouquets with Chocolates. And at Easter we made small Easter baskets with a stuffed animal. It was a big hit!
We would do soup and salad luncheons with our administrative team donating one of the dishes, and would sell cheap lunches two are aids and staff. We did hot dog lunches during baseball season and also sold candy bars. In September, I would call local businesses and ask them to donate gift cards or items and we would put together a huge card basket with either a Christmas theme, or food theme. We would display the basket and sell the tickets at the front desk daily two family members , visitors and staff. Two weeks before Christmas we would have one of our dementia residents pull the winning ticket. He was a huge success and we easily made $1,000. One year we did a baseball basket with donated tickets and baseball items. That also went over well.
Thanks
https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-plan-a-fundraising-event/3458/
https://www.goldencarers.com/optimal-activities---marketing-fundraising-sourcing-free-resources/5105/