But for the Ice Ferns - the New Zealand women's ice hockey squad - collecting scrap metal will help raise the funds they need to travel to the world fourth division championships in Iceland next year.
Squad member Lyndal Heineman (27) said the team was not sponsored and each member needed to raise about $5000 to get to the championships.
The usual fundraising raffles were becoming more difficult to sell, she said.
"Doing raffles and selling chocolates - we found we were selling to the same people time and time again.
"We wanted to find another way to raise funds without asking people to put their hands in their pockets all the time.
"This way, people are just getting rid of old junk."
Heineman, a Canterbury goaltender, said squad members had been in touch with friends, family and people in their community to see if they had any old barbecues, fridges, hot water cylinders, car parts, old batteries, or even empty food cans, which could be collected inDunedin today.
It was hoped enough would be collected during the next month to take to Otago Metals in Green Island to sell for money to go towards their trip, she said.
"People can also take their old metal into Otago Metals themselves and ask for the money to go towards the Ice Ferns."
Heineman said the idea to collect scrap metal was inspired by friends who are electricians.
"They keep left-over bits of copper - little off-cuts of wire which are no use to anyone - which they stockpile and keep for a Christmas bonus."
The initiative had tremendous potential for fundraising, she said.
Squad members will arrive in Dunedin today from around the country to take part in a training camp at the Dunedin Ice Stadium during the weekend.
