Successful things done around here:

restaurants that donate a percentage of sale (10-20%) back to the school/organization on a designated night (Chick Fil A, Papa Murphy's, Domino's, Red Robin, Black Eyed Pea, 31 flavors are a few that do it)

silent auction: students ask for donated items that go with certain *themes* and then create gift baskets. Then they are displayed on a certain night and people can bid on them

I know the babysitting nights that local churches have are PACKED! If you have a place that will donate space (school, church, etc), you could do Friday or Saturday nights that have nothing to do with a holiday and set up "date night". Maybe find some restaurants that will give discounts to couples who have a flyer and have dropped their kids off. That sort of thing will appeal to some people while others might just like to have the time to do whatever. I think "admission" is like $5 for the first kid and $2.50 for each additional one for up to 4 hours

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003