Hi Sandra,
Here are 2 that we have always done.

Spaghetti Feed.
Get local host to donate space
church, VFW, lions club etc.
Need kitchen though

Parents cook spaghetti and garlic bread,
The kids act at the servers and serve the food to tables
All you can eat tickets are sold for $5.00 through local retailers, and various other methods.

Costs are cheap and can many times get items donated.

This is one that will grow year after year.


Another is delivering phone books,
Kids and drivers meet at a drop point and collect the books.
2-3 kids per driver(parent) and they canvas the area delivering the books to the specified area.

We did it on a Saturday afternoon and if I recall the pay was about $1500-$2000 for the org.
Pay may be more now as I did it in the late 80's and early 90's
read the paper and call the number that is given to sign up for an area.
They will tell you when and where ( we always went a few miles from our own town as ours was booked by other distributing individuals and orgs)
Jason

Jason