I’m a mom of two, and for us, that means a near-constant parade of fundraisers once the first month of school has passed. I usually donate money to the school after I get my first paycheck after school starts.
There is only so much candy, plastic junk, wrapping paper, and spirit wear one family needs. I’ve been conducting research on other fundraisers and have found two possibilities that do not involve selling anything.
Fiber/clothing/rag recycling: There are a few companies that recycle fiber (like yarn or fabric), clothing, and rags (old towels and sheets), and they have fundraising programs. Here are just a few companies that I have found:
If you are interested in doing a shoe recycling fundraiser:
If your school or other non-profit has done either of these, I’d love to hear about how they have worked in the past- Please leave a comment!

These drinks, the Heywell and Stur, were buy one, get one free. And since I need some back-to-school beverages, I picked them up. The Sturs will go into my lunch box, and the Heywells will get stashed in the fridge at work for mornings when I need a little extra pick-me-up.

Have you heard of Merryfield? It’s a cashback app that partners with healthy food brands (the complete list can be found
You can select specific offers to earn specific point values. See the picture with a few of the deals.
It’s my last weekend before I head back to work, and the smaller kid heads back to school.
Woo Hoo! Fetch Rewards is hooking us up with points out the wazoo! Earn an extra 4,000 points when you invite a friend to Fetch and they snap a receipt. Head to the app and share your referral code now through 08/10/2025.
