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Soft Drink
Giveaways
Fill coolers with ice and drinks. We always offer at least
two options. We set up at grocery store entrances and say, "Hi,
would you like regular or diet?" (It's easier to say yes when there
are only two options!) Small home-use coolers usually are too small
for this. We have purchased the mega Igloos that hold over 100 cans
with ice. We buy Coke brand drinks instead of the cheaper stuff. (Over
the years we've received hundreds of comments of appreciation that we
thought enough of those in our community to invest in decent beverages.)
Our connection cards on this one are
coated to be water and wilt resistant. The card goes under the opener
– we now affectionately call these "card holders."
Newspapers
Some convenience stores allow the entire stack of newspapers
to be purchased. We place a sign on the top of the stack that reads,
"Free Newspapers – Courtesy of Vineyard Community Church."
Each paper has a card attached with
removable adhesive.
Vinyl
gloves
Pumping gas is both troublesome and smelly. Disposable gloves
are an inexpensive way of saying to strangers, "God loves you --
and has a wonderful, lead-free plan for your life." We attach a
sticker or card to these $.06 gloves
(gloves available at Sam’s). Self-serve stations have been very
willing to allow us to place an acrylic dispenser by their cash registers.
Umbrella
Escorts
Moms and the elderly find it tough to make it from stores
to their cars in the rain. We use huge golf umbrellas to help them to
their car with as little wetness as possible.
Windshield
Washing
Some years ago when we started serving, this was one of our
first projects. We still do it just about every weekend. The materials
list is short and inexpensive: a good squeegee, a wiping rag, a connection
card, and windshield cleaner (We recommend you not use Windex style
cleaner – ask your car parts store what they recommend). If it's
too hot (above 85°F) or too cold (below freezing) you might end
up making a dirty windshield even worse. If you are doing this at random
in a parking lot, don't wash high-end cars. Their owners are unlikely
to see your service as helpful. Car alarms? If you accidentally set
one off, finish cleaning, and move on. We've set off plenty. They will
reset themselves shortly.
Coffee
Giveaways
Use either Igloo containers, air pump thermoses, or better
yet, one of our coffee backpacks.
We suggest having three options: regular, decaf and hot chocolate. On
a cool day, you will have folks swarming for a cup of something hot.
We have paper cups with our name and logo printed. You will need three
or four people to help give away coffee for each big canister. With
each drink we give out a connection card.
Restroom
Cleaning at Public Places
This is Steve Sjogren's
favorite project. There's nothing like walking into a gas station, restaurant
or retail store and offering, "We'd like to clean your toilet for
free!"
Put a little cleaning kit together. The essentials: brush, air freshener,
window cleaner, paper towels, toilet bowl cleaner, rubber gloves, doorstop.
There's nothing magical about the technique here. Steve has cleaned
commodes all over the world and says they are all pretty much the same
as the ones in your home.
This is probably one of the most frequently rejected projects we do
– probably because the offer to clean a toilet is a bit overwhelming.
No matter. Give them your connection card,
smile, and say, "OK! We'll come back some other time and clean
when you need it. We're just trying to show you God’s love in a
practical way."
Urinal
Screens with Your Church’s Name on It
Girls may not know what a urinal screen is. Ask any guy for
the scoop on this piece of janitorial genius. Janitorial supply businesses
can print almost anything on these. We have our logo and phone number
on them and are known all over the city for these. Occasionally, highly
churchy people will become irritated at this one. We believe it's pretty
close to the first century equivalent of washing feet.
Restroom
Deodorizer
What restroom couldn't stand to smell a bit nicer? Either
hang or attach one to the wall. On the front place your church logo
and a slogan along the lines of, "This restroom has been Vineyardized!
Give us a call if we can be of more help."
Grocery
Bag Loading Assistance
Moms with lots of kids hanging on them like koalas often
need assistance getting their bags loaded into the car from the cart.
The elderly need the same sort of help. On this one almost everyone
will try to give a tip. As with all kindness projects, to receive money
would taint what we are trying to communicate – "God’s
love in a practical package with no strings attached."
This project may require permission from the store manager on the day
of the event.
The servers on this one need to be particularly safe-appearing folks.
Smiling can help ease people's fears.
Name tags or T-shirts identifying connection to your organization is
a plus for this outreach because it makes the loading assistants look
more official.
Bag
Packing at Self-Serve Grocers
Increasing numbers of grocery stores offer rock bottom prices.
One of the ways they can afford this is by cutting out services such
as bag packing. Each customer must pack their own. We have our own aprons
with our logo on them. The first time we volunteered to do this the
manager was skeptical, but that feeling quickly melted. We've received
reports from all over the US that this project is very effective. To
top it off, this is honest work. After all, it's how David Letterman
got his start!
Name tags or T-shirts identifying connection to your organization is
a plus for this outreach because it makes the baggers look more official.
Grocery
Cart Returns
Approach shoppers as they finish unloading their carts with
the offer, "Hi, can I take that back for you? We're Christians
showing God’s love in a practical way to shoppers." The shoppers
will appreciate it, and the grocer will love you for it.
Coins
Attached to Cards for Phone Calls or Parking Meters
For years we have "fed" parking meters in Cincinnati.
We changed tactics last fall when Sylvia Stayton was arrested. Perhaps
you read about the "meter feeding granny" in your local paper.
We were not aware that feeding someone else’s meter was taboo.
The law in Cincinnati is rather vague. Until it is clarified, we have
chosen to attach a coin to a card that reads, "It's time for some
change!" We place the card between the driver's window and the
bottom rubber seal. When the driver returns, he or she can use the coin
for their meter or a phone call. This is a high volume project. Close
to 200 of these can be placed in an hour in a crowded parking area.
To attach the coin, use either rubber cement (smelly and slow) or a
roll of adhesive. Several types of these are sold in the tape section
of most office supply stores. Unless the weather is remarkably hot,
even a quarter will stay attached.
Thief alert: Often young kids or street people will follow and swipe
the cards from cars. Ask them if they need money and how much. Usually
they will ask for a buck or two. Make them a deal – allow these
folks to get a quarter and give them the two dollars.
Donut
Giveaway during Morning Traffic Times
A couple of grandmas at our church have had great success
giving away pastries in the morning. Who could say no to a sweet grandma
type? As with any giveaway, have a couple of options. These gals set
up on a traffic island at a light. When it's red they step into traffic
and ask, "Would you like chocolate, maple or glazed?" They
then give them a connection card.
Cookies
Everyone likes a cookie. We purchase these in small packets
of four. Although manufactured cookies aren't as good as homemade, folks
are reluctant to receive unpackaged food from strangers. We have had
our greatest success with this in downtown business areas. Go for quality
of product - not low cost - people will receive a name brand like "Oreo"
more than a generic brand.
LifeSavers
If you are looking for an affordable entry point for touching
many in a flurry of outreach, consider this one. Everyone will take
a roll of these candies. We attach a connection
card, and give out hundreds of these candies to passersby. We purchase
the candy at Sam’s for about five cents per roll.
An option for this is to print the message of the connection card onto
mailing labels and stick them on Lifesavers
Dollar
Drop
At local malls where any sort of programmatic evangelism
is not allowed, this is a way to get the attention of many quickly.
We attach a connection card explaining
our project to a dollar bill. We use Post-It note removable glue (available
at local business supply stores). Then we go around the mall and nonchalantly
drop dollar bills on the ground. For some free entertainment, stand
a distance away and watch who picks up the dollar and how they respond
to the message.
Quarter
Drop
Are you one of those people who can't walk past a pay phone
without checking the coin return? For all those folks out there, here's
an outreach just for them. We place a sticker on one side of the quarter
and place these loaded quarters in coin returns of vending machines
of various sorts. This one also works by just placing the coin on the
ground or on a bench.
A note on the sticker: Make sure the sticker is larger than the quarter.
There are some folks out there who will leave the sticker on the quarter
and try to insert it into the phone or vending machine – then you'll
get a call from the repairman.
Chewing
Gum
Similar to the LifeSaver outreach. When purchased in large
quantities at a discount store like Sam’s, packs of gum come down
to around 11¢ a pack.
Lollipops
/ Blowpops
These are great giveaway items for parks, festivals, and
college campuses. Purchase at Sam's for around 6¢ a piece —
it is an inexpensive but effective way to show God's love.
Bottled
Water Giveaway
Many people prefer water to soft drinks. Ice down bottles
of water in Igloo coolers for an alternative to Coke giveaways. Use
the same drink connection cards. We
don't recommend combining this with a soda giveaway because it offers
too many options and gets complicated.
Freshen-up
Packs - mints & moist towelettes
At festivals and public places, it is difficult to wash hands
— a moist towelette is a practical small gift. Package a few with
some starlight mints and make a "freshen-up" pack. See cards
for special connection card. Towelettes can be printed with your church
name and logo and only cost about 1¢ per towelette. Mints are about
2¢ - total cost of packet - 6¢.
Flower
Seeds
Give out flower seeds to celebrate Spring. Some companies
offer the option of having your church name printed on the outside of
the packet.
           
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