It is perfectly reasonable to charge a small fee for a traditional family holiday style meal. Restaurants do it all the time. Since food is purchased at a discount by nursing home administration, costs to provide this entertainment can be kept to a minimum. Families will gladly pay a small fee for a good quality meal. They tend to appreciate the fact that holiday traditions can be honored with their loved ones and that there is no cooking and no cleanup for them to worry about.
Raffles tend to be a lot of fun.
They are usually inexpensive, about a dollar or two per chance. Prizes can be worth up to several hundred times the chance money, justifying the expense. All profits can go directly to resident activities, while initial investment can purchase more materials for the very next round. As a monthly event, with new and different prizes being offered each time, this can add up quite nicely. Many nursing homes designate a special day each week, most commonly on Fridays, where staff can dress down.