Reusable totes are outstanding tools for churches to use in a variety of ways. While this list is hardly inclusive of all the amazing opportunities reusable totes present to churches, these are among our favorite ten. If you put your mind to it, you can probably think of dozens of ways to use reusable tote bags as part of your everyday ministry.
Whether your goal is to ultimately become a zero-waste church, or you are simply looking for a way to build solidarity among your members, church tote bags are a great way to go. Plus, these bulk reusable bags offer numerous opportunities for your church to expand its ministry beyond the doors of your building, into your local community, and to the world beyond.
Reusable tote bags come in all shapes and sizes and are made from a wide range of materials, including:
- Jute
- Canvas
- Cotton
- Nylon
- Non-woven
- Polyester
The sky is the limit with plenty of styles, sizes, and designs to choose from. Plus, you can have your own church or event logo and/or message printed on these bags. Bags are useful. They aren’t easily outgrown or lost like so many other items churches use to celebrate events and raise awareness about their activities and adventures.
So, without further ado, let’s go over 10 great ways churches can use reusable bags.
1. Welcome New Members into the Congregation
A nice warm gift to welcome new members into your congregation is an ideal way to make them feel like loved, wanted, and at home members of your church family. Reusable bags can help to reflect your desire, as a congregation, to protect the planet and make your new members feel welcomed and loved at the same time.
2. Commemorate Mission Trips
Mission trips are important components of any active and growing church. You want to spread the word about the things God is doing in your lives with others who may not have heard the word by now – and other who may have dismissed the word before. It’s also an incredible bonding and growing experience for those who attend and participate. One your team might appreciate having a reusable bag – or a few – to remember it with.
3. Offer Gift Bags for Women’s Retreat Participants
Women’s retreats often come with a wide assortment of swag. From water bottles and prayer guides to notebooks and pens for journaling, refrigerator magnets, and countless other small gifts to bring home. Many of them would genuinely appreciate a nice reusable cotton or canvas tote emblazoned with the retreat’s theme to put their goodies in to take home with them.
4. Provide Goodie Bags for Children and Youth Trip or Event Participants
Children and youth have many events throughout the year. This includes things like lock-ins, celebrations and parties, vacation Bible school, retreats, trips, and more. These are ideal opportunities to create reusable tote bags or drawstring bags with a logo for the event and / or a Bible verse to commemorate their participation.
5. Promote Environmental Awareness Within the Congregation
Many churches participate in environmental initiatives, including Earth Day and other celebrations throughout the year.
6. Use as Fundraisers
Churches need funds for all kinds of reasons. Reusable totes and other bags can help you raise the funds you need to reach your goals. Those goals can be any of the following or something else altogether:
- New hymnals
- Youth trips
- Mission trips
- New church bus
- Church improvements
- Church renovations
- Green initiatives for the church
- To further church ministries.
The real beauty is that you can raise funds in a variety of ways that include:
- Selling the actual bags.
- Filling the bags with goodies and selling them.
- Filling the bags with goodies and raffling them.
- Conducting a mystery bag sale.
- Filling them with baked treats and goods and selling them.
7. Encourage Participation in Church Food Drives
Church food drivers are important parts of the average church ministry. By offering custom reusable bags for members to fill up and bring food to the church for the drive can improve participation and encourage members of your congregation to give to those who are far less fortunate.
8. Inspire Young Children With Sunday School Bags
Encourage Sunday school students to return with their Sunday school booklets and Bibles by giving them Sunday school bags of their very own to bring back with them each week. It’s a great way to encourage mindfulness in small children and a bag they can be proud to own.
9. Celebrate Spiritual Milestones Among Congregation Members
Spiritual milestones occur in churches of all religions. Whatever religion your church practices, there are milestones to celebrate. You can have bags printed for these types of milestones as encouragement and rewards.
10. Give to People in Larger Community Who are Hurting
One of the great things about churches is that you do not limit your ministry to those who are part of your congregations. When people in your community are hurting, you are there to offer kindness, words of encouragement, and a prayer if they are willing. You can also offer physical help and comfort, such as bags filled with essentials to help:
- Victims of domestic abuse
- House fire victims
- Children who have lost parents
- Flood victims
- Homeless individuals and families
The list of needs within your local community are never-ending. These bags can offer comfort, necessities, and hope to those who may be struggling to find these things.
There is no end to the reusable bag fundraising opportunities available to you.
ReuseThisBag.com Looks Forward to Working With Your Church
At ReuseThisBag.com we believe that sustainability beings at home. We also understand that the church plays a vital role in the way communities view the importance of sustainable living. As stewards of the planet, you want to set the example for your congregations to follow, so you can work together to protect the world God gave us all.
Our huge selection of custom tote bags, shopping bags, reusable drawstring bags and more make excellent gifts for all the needs listed above and so many more.
Contact us today by calling 877-334-5323 to learn more about our huge selection and how you can choose the bags that meet your needs today and in the future – as your congregation grows.