Shop Local gift card fundraiser returns

Deadline for businesses to participate is Sept. 2

August 19, 2024, 10:48 am
Ryan Kiedrowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The MacLeod Elementary School Community Council’s Shop Local Gift Card Fundraiser is kicking off its fourth year.

The campaign involves MacLeod students selling prepaid gift cards from local businesses. A portion of proceeds from those sales returns to the SCC—not only providing an economic boost for the participating businesses, but fundraising dollars for the school for projects.

“This year, it’s all going to go towards the playground,” said SCC Chair Shannon Beckett. “We’re looking at replacing one of the current structures that we have.”

Last years’ fundraiser brought in around $130,000 in total gift card sales (an increase of $13,000 from the year previous) with nearly $10,000 of that returned back to the school’s playground updates.

Beckett has also noticed the number of businesses in and around Moosomin that want to participate in the fundraiser increasing.

“Every year we end up with a few more businesses,” she said. “I think this year so far, we’ve got an extra four businesses from last year.”

Businesses keen on taking part in this year’s fundraiser have until Sept. 2 to sign up, then the big blitz is on for students at MacLeod to the gift cards.

“They start selling them September 26, and it runs until October 25,” Beckett explained.

Those in the business community also see the huge benefit of the unique fundraiser—both for the local economy and in terms of raising funds for the playground equipment.

“I think it’s a great way for the school to raise some funds and be able to support local businesses at the same time,” confirmed Tyler Thorn, owner of Moosomin Celebration Ford. “In this case, all the money stays local and is spent in local businesses. So that’s probably the biggest reason we support it to the level that we do; we’re proponents of shopping local. And I think this fundraiser is a great way to do that.”

In 2023, Celebration Ford—who have been supporting the fundraiser since it was started—invested $24,000 in gift cards.

“When we buy the gift cards, we use them for gifts for our staff,” Thorn said, pointing to the smart timing of the campaign being in advance of the busy Christmas season. “That’s part of the intent for us, to recognize and thank our employees and give them a little help at Christmas time to do some of the shopping locally.”

Beckett also noticed the upswing in businesses buying gift cards for their employees, noting that it “helps out tremendously.”

For many, it’s an automatic reaction to support the fundraiser as everyone seems to have ties to MacLeod School and would like to support the SCC’s initiative.

“It’s important to us to support the school,” Thorn said. “I have two daughters that go to that school, so that’s very important to me that we help out where we can. Like I said, it helps the community as well, with keeping those shopping dollars local at Christmas time.”

He also had many accolades to the co-ordinators of the gift card fundraiser, especially how organized and efficient it all rolls out.

As for advice to other businesses in Moosomin on the fence about taking part in the fundraiser, Thorn’s message was simple.

“I would encourage our fellow business owners in town to consider that same incentive for their people, or bonus or appreciation,” he advised. “You can give them a bonus at Christmas time in the form of a cheque, but there’s no guarantees that they spend that money locally. I think this is just one way to help out our fellow business people in town by encouraging our teams to shop at home.”

Those interested in getting involved with the SCC gift card drive can contact Beckett at (306) 434-6699 to have their business added to the list.