Holidays

Valentine's Day

Candy Giveaway
Give out chocolate hearts for Valentine's day in busy downtown areas or in front of stores. This is an excellent way to do a "giveaway." Rather than ask "Would you like...?" say: "Happy Valentine's Day" and give them a heart and a connection card. You'll get very few rejections. Purchase high quality chocolate for a greater effect.

Roses
Hand out roses or carnations in busy downtown areas or in front of busy stores. Even men find this appealing because they can give them away! Hand a flower and a connection card.

St. Patrick's Day

Candy
Many cities have parades or at least specific areas that celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Bar districts really celebrate it. It's difficult to find specific St. Pat's candy, but green foiled chocolate coins are a bit hit. These are available through candy distributors and will need to be ordered in advance. Say "Happy St. Patrick's Day" and give them a connection card.

Easter

Easter Baskets
These are great for both "business blasts" and "house to house." Purchase inexpensive Easter baskets (around sixty cents) and fill with candy such as wrapped small eggs and other inexpensive Easter candy. You can make a nice basket for around $2.00 including the basket.

Candy Giveaway
Since this is the season of candy... what a perfect giveaway. Give out candy in busy downtown areas or in front of busy stores. This is a great way to do a "giveaway." Instead of asking, "Would you like...?", say, "Happy Easter" and give them candy and a connection card. You will get very few rejections. Purchase high quality candy for greater effect. Make sure candy is prepackaged.

Butterfly Cocoons
From the beginning of church history, the butterfly has been a symbol of the resurrection of Christ. Death, change, life are all found in the cocoon. We found a source for butterfly cocoons. It is possible to purchase cocoons that can be timed to hatch on a given day — within a day or so anyway. One Easter we distributed several thousand of these with a special connection card. We gave them out on Good Friday, and they hatched on Easter Sunday. This project is best designed for churches in mild climates.

Flower Seeds for Spring
Give out flower seeds to celebrate Spring. Some seed companies offer the option of having your church name printed on the outside of the packet. This giveaway works great downtown, in front of stores, placed on parked cards, or at Spring festivals. Staple connection card to seeds and give them away!

Independence Day (Fourth of July)
Most communities have festivals to celebrate this holiday. Get a group of people together and plan a Kindness Outreach!

Giveaways
Blow-pops and gum balls are a big hit. Small American flags are also popular. After it is dark, glow-in-the-dark necklaces are really effective. These necklaces run about $1.00 each.

Tattoos or Face Painting
Set up a little station and offer free temporary tattoos or face painting. Make sure face paints are designed for skin. Don't use tempera or poster paints! This is popular with kids and teens alike. An advantage to this project is the time you can spend with the person as you paint their face or apply their tattoo. As you are paint or tattoo them, pray that God will touch them with His Spirit.

House to House Free Picnic
Go door to door with a free picnic. Give away hot dogs, chips, buns, beans, and cookies, maybe even a watermelon.

Parks
Parks are a popular place on the 4th of July. Bring a team of clowns and give away helium balloons and small candy items.

Labor Day (September)

School Supplies
Take school supplies house to house especially in needy neighborhoods whose residents include many children.

Halloween

Reverse Trick-or-Treat
Although many churches do not endorse this holiday, it's the second largest holiday in the United States in terms of money spent. It's a part of the culture of America and by using this event we can connect with pre-Christians in ways they can understand.

The Saturday before Halloween, during the day, throw a costume party. (Positive costumes, nothing scary.) Team everyone in teams of 4-6. Go house to house and give away candy. Say: "No tricks, just a treat to show God's love." Don't let them accept any candy from residents... only give away bags of candy. Leave a connection card or have a special one designed for this (example). Give out high quality candy. We tried this, and it was very effective. People were caught off guard at being given something!

Halloween Connect Cards
We provide free candy for our congregation for them to give out to trick-or-treaters. Included with this candy were special Halloween connection cards (example).

Fall and Thanksgiving

House-to-House
Mum plants: A wonderful house-to-house gift.
Turkey dinner: Great for needy areas!
Holiday potpourri: Great alternative to food product or plant

Fall Candy Giveaway
Purchase specific Thanksgiving candies and give them out for Thanksgiving in busy downtown areas or in front of busy stores. This is an excellent way to do a "giveaway.". Instead of asking, "Would you like...?", say "Happy Thanksgiving" and give them candy and connection card. You will get a few rejections. Purchase high quality candy for greater effect. We purchased chocolate coins that had turkeys on them.

Leaf Raking
"We came, we saw, we raked!"

Several people in small group can rake an entire neighborhood on a single Saturday morning. Maybe you don't like raking your own yard; but when you're with a group of friends serving in the name of Christ, a chore becomes a joy. Many yards take only fifteen to twenty minutes to polish off.

Note: If possible go to neighborhoods where the city vacuums leaves left on the curb (some do). If you bag them, leave the bags by the curb for later pick up.

Christmas

Gift Wrap at the Mall
Wrap Christmas presents for free for mall shoppers. Depending on your mall, you may have to rent the space, purchase the materials, and do it at the hours they ask. On the other hand, some malls give free space, provide the materials and are very accommodating regarding wrapping hours. We've experienced both situations.

A common question is, "Isn't this sort of outreach expensive?" Answer: It can be, but not necessarily. There are one-time equipment investments that must be made. Beyond those, the cost is about a quarter per package.

A second common question is, "Isn't something like this going to conflict with the other groups who are wrapping in the mall for their particular fund raiser?" Answer: We aren't in competition with the fancy department stores. They do a classy job. Ours isn't bad, but it doesn't compare with the nice wrapping places. We can help someone who is in a hurry or has a small gift or just can't afford to spend the money to get it wrapped at the fancy place.

Caroling and Candy Canes
Organize a caroling group and go "house to house" in neighborhoods. Take candy canes or a small gift to give as well. For another spin — go with low income areas, especially inner city urban, take hot chocolate and cookies and serve the residents.

House-to-House
Poinsettias — take small poinsettia plants as "house to house" gifts.

Scotch Tape Giveaway
Can one get anymore practical than giving away Scotch tape at Christmas? Everyone needs it. This giveaway is rarely rejected and much appreciated.

Tree Giveaway
A few days before Christmas, lot owners are willing to give the trees away. With pickup trucks, deliver them to financially stretched single parent families.

Business Blast
Surprise employees with a basket or "stocking" of Christmas candy. Deliver a basket to be shared by store employees and leave a connection card that says, "Happy Holidays! This is a busy time of year for you. We want you to know how much we appreciate you and to show you God's love in a practical way!"

Candy Giveaway
Give out Christmas candy in front of stores or on busy downtown walkways. Say "Happy Holidays!" and give them a connection card.

Winter

Snow Shoveling
Men's groups take on their neighborhood with snow shovels and snow blowers. We go door to door explaining our project. The snow blowers aren't necessary but very helpful. Most drives and sidewalks can be finished in a matter of minutes. Be sure to bring coffee and hot chocolate for the workers.

Winter Survival Kit
In a zip lock bag, put everything someone could need to get through a day of adverse winter weather: tissues, cough drops, lip balm, and coins to make a pay phone call.