Are there any companies that will donate wicker baskets for a gift auction?

-I am running a gift auction for my sister who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, and I am looking for a company/organization who will donate baskets for free- I'm not looking for items to put inside of a basket, I am looking for literally the wicker (or whatever material) baskets themselves. Can anyone help?Some other options: Wal-Mart, discount stores like T.J. Maxx, Home Goods and Big Lots and if you have Dollar Tree stores in your community everything is a $1 so even if they won't donate the baskets, the cost to you would be minimum.



Another option is simply asking family and friends. I have at least a dozen wicker baskets and I would donate most of them to a good cause.



I have been in your position when I chaired a fund raiser two years in a row for a local women's homeless shelter. The tough part is you can call the stores but you get the best results if you visit in person although I would call to make sure a manager is on duty when you make your trip.



The difficult position you are in is that your auction is not for a legal non-profit business, so the companies who donate to you won't get a tax write-off. For that reason, I would call family and friends before putting your time into contacting businesses.



For cash donation, don't forget to ask small locally owned business to put up a jar on their counter. Prepare a photo of your sister with a brief description of her illness and include the jar (small fish containers work well). The best is small glass containers (hopefully you have a Dollar Tree and get a few for $1 each). Usually, small family-owned businesses and convenient-type stores will be happy to allow you to have these jars on the counter and you would be amazed how many people will put in their loose change which really adds up and you could use the cash to obtain the wicker baskets if necessary. (We did this for a friend who needed help paying for his cancer treatment.)



You have taken on a big project and unfortunately you won't find many companies willing to donate wicker baskets because stores like Pier 1 sell them for at least $20 per basket and they aren't getting a tax break. That is why I would start with family and friends and then move on to the discount stores where a basket might sell for $5.



Also, call local non-profit organizations like the Salvation Army, Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul. Then, might have wicker baskets for sell at a minimum price or be willing to donate them to you.Besides asking friends and family for wicker baskets themselves, ask them to help you make all these calls. I have a friend who puts together a lot of silent auctions (and most of the items are in wicker baskets - the reason I have so many myself!) and I'll ask her where she obtains them. If I get an answer from her, I'll re-post an answer.



I wish I could provide tangible help but you and your sisters will be in my prayers.