I have three unemployed friends who want to have a fundraiser before the holidays. They are in their late forties and I am the oldest. Two were laid off from their jobs and are getting unemployment, one is living on her savings, and I am getting a monthly pension check from my old job.
One of us suggested having a Christmas bazaar but not everyone thought that it would be a good idea because not everyone had a lot of things to sell.
Another one came with the idea of a wine and cheese tasting and charging $25.00 per person. I didn't think that the location was good for that type of social activity; it's in a office basement. Now we are in limbo because no one has been able to bring any fresh ideas. I had suggested that we go sell all the clutter from our houses at an indoor flea market. The idea was welcome but they want to do the fundraiser raiser first.
I am leaving the decision to them since they are the ones who will soon be without an income but I still would like to know if anyone has any ideas and if those ideas have worked for them.

Maybe you could use the office basement and sell spots for tables so other people could sell their clutter.

The idea of selling the clutter is the best, actually. Other people have also lost jobs or are trying to get out of debt and they are cutting back on going to fundraisers themselves.

Go to your neighbors also, and ask to help them clean out their garages & attics, if you can take what they don't want & sell it as well.