A great many congregations get together at the church for events other than worship services. Youth groups and their activities are a common reason for the congregation to gather. Raising funds for the needs of the congregation or community is another. Many churches hold bake sales or bazaars. Congregation members bring their goods to the church to sell. The money is then donated directly to the church for its use in maintenance or special services.
Food drives are often held at churches. The congregation will spread the word that the church is collecting food for those in need. There is generally a Saturday set aside for this purpose. As donations come in, the congregation members that have volunteered will sort the items and package them for distribution. Sometimes they are stored in the church's food pantry so the distribution can be done over several weeks. This is one of the community events sponsored by many local churches.
