Put the Fun Back in Fundraising!

Looking for a Fun, Profitable, and AFFORDABLE Fundraiser?

Is your school planning a Spring Fair, Fall Festival, Family Fun Night, or some carnival-type function, where you’re looking for a fun, new activity? Sandy Candy is the answer you’re looking for! It appeals to kids of ALL ages; from Pre-K, to Elementary, through Middle and High Schools, and even College-aged kids love Sandy Candy!

How does Sandy Candy work as a Fundraiser?

All you do is purchase Large Group Straw Kits (candy is INCLUDED) and set up a table for kids to make their own edible sand art. Simply price your straws above the cost and watch your profits grow!

How much profit can we make?

Sandy Candy has terrific fundraising potential. Profit can be as much as 50% and higher depending on the number and size of your straw order. For example, the 12″ straw is the most popular size because it is easy to handle for all age groups and the price is right. Your cost per straw can range from $1.25 to $.95 (for 1000 straws). Our school customers typically sell the 12″ straw for $2; some charge $3 each and 2 for $5. No need to make change in coins. If using tickets, any amount will work well, too. View our Profit Chart.

Remember: the children are only paying $2 for both an activity AND an edible finished product. Parents feel good knowing that the money is going right back into funds for their children.

Profit can range from 37.5% (if you buy only the minimum of 100 straws) to 52.5% if you purchase at the 1000-straw price break. Many schools buy 500 straws to take advantage of the 500 price break (price drops from $1.25 to $1.05). The candy has an indefinite shelf life; simply re-cap the candy bottles and store in a cool, dry place until your next event.

Do Straw Kit prices include the candy?

Yes!! Straw Kits come complete with candy, straws, and caps. Each color is a different flavor and comes in an easy-to-handle, pourable bottle. No funnels or other equipment are necessary. The children just pour the candy into their straw to create their own edible sand art masterpiece! We have calculated how much candy is needed to fill the number of straws you’ve ordered, and we always send more than enough. We allow for plentiful color choice for every last straw.

How do we know what to order?

The minimum Straw Kit order is 100 straws and in increments of 50 thereafter. The 12″ straws are the most popular for fundraising. If your organization is subsidizing the cost, the 6″ straw makes a good giveaway. 20″ straws are great for older kids-particularly high school and college. There are price breaks at 500, 750, 1000 straws (and beyond). Leftovers, if there are any, are never a problem. Sandy Candy has an indefinite shelf life if stored in a cool, dry place. Many of our customers take advantage of the price breaks with that in mind. We are here to walk you through your ordering decisions so please do not hesitate to call or e-mail us!

What do schools typically order? What do they use it for?

Elementary schools typically order 12″ Straw Kits for fundraising and 6″ Straw Kits for non-profit types of events (field days, fun days, etc). Middle and high schools like the 12″ straws for dances, re-sale at athletic events, and for rewards, while colleges and universities use all three sizes for incoming freshmen orientation, group icebreakers, fraternity and sorority fundraising, and club activities, just to name a few.

Many schools use Sandy Candy throughout the year. Taking advantage of the price break, they will purchase a large order in the fall and use it at Back-to-School night, then again at their Fall Festival, a Holiday Bazaar, Ice Cream Social, and/or Spring Fair. Some schools still have leftovers to use at their End of Year Fun Day/Field Day, or Student Rewards (best grades, good behavior, successful attendance, achieving goals, etc), incoming Kindergarten classes, or even for graduation to Middle School or High School.

What types of payment arrangements are available for schools?

Prepayment is welcomed, but not required, for schools and school groups (i.e., PTO, PTA, Home & School, etc.). We can send a bill with your Large Group Activities order. Our terms are Net 20, meaning payment is due within 20 days of the date the order is shipped (not ordered). We can time your shipment to arrive the week before your event. You can hold your event, collect the money and then pay us, all within 20 days!

Acceptable forms of payment include school/school organization check, school purchase order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or Money Order/Bank Check (no personal checks). All orders MUST ship to your school unless prepaid. Please call to make billing arrangements.

When and how should we place our order?

We prefer to hear from you 2–4 weeks or more prior to your event. The more time the better-we can schedule your order to ship when it is convenient for you. BUT, if you are short on time please call. We do everything we can to accommodate short-notice orders. We like to ship your order about 10 days to 2 weeks before your event, which will allow 7–10 days after your event to make your payment. Prepaid orders can be made anytime at your convenience, 24/7, on our secure online store. Call, fax or email us to place your order with billing arrangements.

What about the Candy: What kind, how much? Can we pick the flavors?

We offer 2 kinds of Sandy Candy: Sand and Pebbles. We carry 30 flavors of Sand and 12 flavors of Pebbles. Although Sand and Pebbles are both great, if this is your first time using Sandy Candy, we recommend using all sand to keep your table “user-friendly.”

You are welcome to choose your own flavors at no additional cost. However, we know that you will be very busy planning your event, so we are happy to select them for you. We send a variety of colors with a good assortment of both sweet and sour flavors, ensuring you receive a rainbow selection that includes some of the most popular flavors/colors. Our Bottle Table outlines the number of bottles per straws.

We realize that too many color/flavor choices can be overwhelming to the children. To keep your table running smoothly, flavor sets are a great solution for large orders. For example, the 500 12″ Straw Kit comes with 35 bottles of candy. Rather than sending all 30 flavors of sand (and doubles of the 5 most popular flavors) we would send 2 of each of 17 flavors (+ one). Please call or email to discuss flavor options or “sets.”

Sounds too simple — What has to be done when my order arrives?

All orders are shipped via UPS Ground. Be sure to open your box and check your order right away—don’t wait until the night before! Your box will contain the straws (bundled in 25’s), caps (in mesh bags with a few extras, just in case), the bottles of candy, and your paperwork. Please pass the invoice to your treasurer to ensure timely payment and to avoid late fees.

There is a minimal amount of preparation to be done for the Sandy Candy booth at your event. We recommend that you prepare your Sandy Candy the week before your event with the following: First, unscrew the top and remove the safety seal from the candy bottles. Next, remove the small caps from the bottles and save them for storage. Then snip the pointed tips to make a small hole for the candy to flow through. Finally, if you are using 12″ or 20″ straws, which are open on both ends, place a cap in one end to save time on the event day.

Additional hints: It is helpful to have a small container in which to put the caps (see picture below). You will also need something in which to put your money or tickets. Aprons with pockets work well. And don’t forget to ADVERTISE: ahead of your event, place a poster in a well-traveled area (lobby, cafeteria, hallway, etc.) to get the students excited about Sandy Candy. On event day, be sure to hang a colorful sign above your booth so everyone knows what it is and where you’re located. You can make your own sign or purchase our inexpensive banner.

How can we see what Sandy Candy looks like?

We have a Photo Gallery of Sandy Candy pictures, many taken at School Fairs. We would love to see what your festival, fair, or carnival looks like and be able to share your photos and stories with other school customers. Please send us your photos and experiences with Sandy Candy to add to our website. You can also hear what others have to say about Sandy Candy on our Comments page.

PTO Today Expos are another great place to see Sandy Candy in action. Attend one of the Expos in your area and make a straw for yourself! You may have even received the PTO Today Card Deck with our postcard.

If you have never seen Sandy Candy in person, we will gladly send an information packet, complete with a sample straw, to your school (first-time schools only) to have at your meeting when discussing upcoming fundraisers. Please call or email with your contact information.