In desperate need of ideas!

Have you considered speaking to your local major companies & seeing they would be willing to donate things that you can raffle off? I only ask that because then you don't have to buy the items that will be raffled & you can get decent things that people are more likely to want to go in the raffle for. Maybe you could go around & see if the local business's want to chip in & offer their support. If you're in a small community then you might have better luck. I wish you well with your money raising & hope you manage to get enough for all the things your son needs. Just curious though, don't you get assistance from the government or anything like that for having a disabled child? I know the governments here help out a lot with disabled kids & also with healthy kids - to help with all the things you need to have :)

If all else fails,reach out to the news or at least the newspaper...I hope You reach you goal and beyond Good Luck :-)

If you want to do a raffle or chinese auction try to get some local gift stores to donate the items so you don't have to buy them. Are you having the dinner at a church? You could hold the dinner there and just have people make the food. Everyone can make something different. You could try fundraising too. Like around here we have Sarris Candy. They have fundraising. I know Subway does it too. If you go to church you could ask that a collection be taken for your son's needs.

An Auction at the benefit dinner would be nice if you have time to organize. Also, perhaps your church could have a bake sale. Sometimes there are organizations that can help. What is your son's disability and primary needs at this time?

Have you ever thinked that you could try to raise funds in internet? I think that would bring more funds if people begin to talk about it and it get high enough publicity. Of course there is just that downline that you and your son would be somekind of icons or something and maybe publicity isn't always best for everyone. I mean there could be some bad publicity how you are making money out of your son, but if you can handle that kind of sick peoples mind, you should try it. I am not sure what would be best way to do it. Maybe some kind of website where you tell your story and people could donate money?

You might want to check if you need a permission to hold fund raisers. The laws in some places requires that you have written approval to start one. As for ideas, perhaps you can work out a consignment deal with a local store to sell their stuff at the dinner, for a cut in the profits. You can even try to design some t-shirts at cafepress and invite people to buy them for your cause (I would be glad to work out something with you if you need someone to design). Good luck, my best wishes to your son.