I love the "bring your contribution to the raffle" type of raffles, because of the bizarre and incongruous collection of Stuff with a Capital S which appears on the raffle table. It always reminds me of "Kim's Game" that you had to play in Brownies in order to win the "memory badge" or some such (...sorry, I've forgotten quite why we had to do it now...)

Darowyn, I DID actually win a miniature birdcage containing bubble bath at one such event, and it sat proudly displayed on my fireplace for many a year. Raffles are a great way for people to get rid of stuff they don't want. The very best raffles I have taken part in were with a theatre group who used to raffle any un-reusable props and items at the after-show party. I became the proud owner of the gruesome blood-stained baby. Someone else won the stale sandwich. Wonderful.

The ritual Choosing of the Raffle Prizes from the Table can often be as entertaining as whatever the official entertainment of the evening may be. That's my take on it, anyway.

- jeanie