[MI-ABS] Expectations and ideas for the MIABS Accessible Flea Market May Fundraiser

[Jeffery Crouch]

Good afternoon all,
  Below, you will find a letter from our amazing Vice President Kashonia Graham outlining expectations and providing some ideas for everyone to get started thinking about how you can contribute to the MIABS Accessible Flea Market. Thank you Kashonia for writing such a thorough document. We appreciate the work you have done and continue to do to build the federation and support the MIABS members.
Please take some time to read all of the information below and please, sign up to contribute. The deadline to sign up is Friday May 8TH.
Thank you.
President Crouch

Letter from Vice President Kashonia Graham

Hello everyone,

I am so excited about our upcoming MIABS virtual fundraiser! This is a chance for each of you to showcase your talents, creativity, and skills while helping us raise funds to support our student division.

This fundraiser is all about YOU. Whether you bake, create, teach, perform, or provide a service, we want to see what you bring to the table. Your talents matter, and this is your moment to shine.

As we prepare, I do want to share a few important guidelines. Because this fundraiser represents MIABS and includes a diverse group of students, we need to be mindful of what is being sold and promoted. All items and services must be appropriate for a general audience and aligned with our mission.

At this time, we will not be able to include:
• Cannabis or controlled substances
• Alcohol or age-restricted products
• Adult or sexually explicit materials
• Items that could create legal or safety concerns for the organization This is not to limit anyone, but to make sure we are protecting our students and our organization while creating a space that everyone can feel comfortable supporting.

The good news is there are so many ways to participate! You can sell handmade items, baked goods, offer services, host a mini workshop, perform, or even create digital products. If you have a talent, there is a place for it here.

Before the fundraiser, please submit your idea/product/service for approval. This helps us ensure everything runs smoothly and supports everyone’s success.

I truly appreciate each of you for being willing to participate. This is going to be an amazing event, and I cannot wait to see all the creativity and talent our students bring.

Talent-Friendly Fundraiser Ideas
(Student-Safe + Showcase-Worthy) Think “skills that sparkle without risk”

Creative & Artistic
• Handmade jewelry, candles, soaps
• Paintings, digital art, custom portraits
• Crochet/knit items, t-shirts, tote bags
• Spoken word recordings or poetry books (print or audio!)

Food (low-risk, non-regulated)
• Baked goods (cookies, cupcakes, brownies)
• Snack packs, popcorn mixes, candy bundles
• Cultural dishes (with ingredient labels)

Services (this is where magic happens ✨)
• Resume writing or mock interviews
• Tech help (screen reader basics, phone setup, app tutorials)
• Tutoring or study sessions
• Braiding, simple hairstyling, or grooming (if appropriate)
• Errand help, organizing, or “help a senior for a day”

Experiences / Talent Show Style
• Virtual mini-performances (singing, music, comedy)
• Dance or fitness sessions
• Workshops (confidence, self-advocacy, budgeting)

Digital Products
• E-books, guides, or checklists
• Budget planners or journals
• Pre-recorded classes or tutorials

🚫 Things we can Gently Restrict (for our guidelines).
• Cannabis or controlled substances (even if legal)
• Alcohol or anything age-restricted
• Adult/sexual wellness products or explicit content
• Medical or health-related products without certification
• Anything requiring licensing/insurance you don’t have
• High-liability items (ingestibles.

If you have questions or want help brainstorming ideas, I am here to support you.

Let’s make this fundraiser something special!
Please register to showcase your tallent by visiting and filling out the short form at
https://forms.gle/yztgDUU58JZRUaRL7

Appreciatively, KaShonia E. Graham

“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”

MLK Jr.