Celiac Disease Awareness Month Activity

The following is an excerpt from the CSA's Awareness Month Packet about Fundraising ideas for the Month of October.

FUNDRAISING IDEAS
Raise awareness and funds at the same time! Here are some ideas to get started:

AT HOME
• Entertain your friends with a gluten-free meal, morning coffee, or a wine and cheese evening etc. Ask for donations in support of the CSA chapter or the CSA Research Grant Program.

AT SCHOOL
• Propose a “hat or cap day” at school – charging everyone a fee (dollar) to wear a cap or hat for a day, with proceeds going to celiac disease research or a CSAcamp scholarship.
• Have a penny campaign to assist in celiac disease research. Place collection canisters throughout the community.

AT WORK
• Bake gluten-free goodies and ask for donations in the office. Distribute CSA awareness brochures in the coffee lounge.
• Do a blind tasting test – which cake tastes the best and see if the gluten-free ones win. Charge a donation for the privilege!

OUT AND ABOUT
• Arrange a meal at a local celiac-friendly restaurant.
• Get fit and help raise money too! Organize a sponsored walk or bike ride. Check with your local police and city government for local regulations, etc.
Don’t forget to contact the local newspaper, radio, TV, and cable channels about your fundraising efforts!

Any money raised for Celiac Sprue Association national projects should be sent as a check made payable to Celiac Sprue Association and will be distributed in accordance with IRS regulations and the donor’s preferences.

Request the manual, “CSA’s Fundraising for Success”, from the CSA office for fundraising ideas and projects by calling toll free 877-CSA-4-CSA or emailing celiacs@csaceliacs.org.

Some of these ideas are obviously easier than others. Please let me know if you do one of these activities and let me know how successful it is. I plan on doing the blind taste test of some GF dessert items at my office soon and will let you know how it turns out.