From a netfriend:

David’s comment about selling donated clothes prompted me to reply (not as a criticism of David – great idea!). West Melbourne was involved in the local community festival last month, raising over $1000 through a trading table and offering pony rides. What made this a little different was that we did not ‘sell’ a thing. We were raising funds for Abbeyfield – a home for low-income independent-living aged people. When people came to our table and asked a price on what was on offer, we simply asked for a donation “whatever you think it is worth – we are raising funds for Abbeyfield”. We had a remarkable response. Some gave generously, others less so – thought it might have been a variant of from each according to his/her means. We had a great day – with the focus on meeting people and ministry. A BIG bonus was that – at the end of the day, we had nothing left on the table. The story of the last few items is a good one, and I won’t tell it here….

My point is that the whole experience was a positive one all round. Everyone felt they got a bargain, or made a contribution to something meaningful. I have been in fetes where someone offers $2 for an item on the table at $3 and is refused. At the end of the day, the item is still there, no money was raised and a $2 item is now worth nothing… when all the items were donated.