4th Annual Downtown Dollars Giveaway
Local community members were busy “shopping and dropping” this holiday season during the 4th Annual Downtown Dollars Giveaway.
The Downtown Dollars Giveaway is a holiday promotion that began four years ago. "The intent was to provide a fun way to encourage community and area residents to shop locally for the holidays and then reward several of those customers by giving away prizes and downtown dollars," said Karen Dreiling, owner of The Furniture Look. "The promotion has been embraced by hundreds of local residents and we've awarded nearly $10,000 in prizes and downtown dollars!"
The activity kicks off annually during the Downtown Holiday Open House weekend, which was November 5-7, 2007 this year. During the month-long promotion shoppers received tickets for purchases made in each of the 18 participating businesses, and then on Sunday, December 7, 2007, during FrostFest weekend, everyone with tickets gathered in front of the Fox Pavilion for the drawing where over $2000 was given away in Downtown Dollars and prizes.
In partnership with KBSH TV, the downtown merchants added a new concept to this year’s Downtown Dollars Giveaway, “Shop N’ Drop.” This year community members could earn extra tickets by dropping off nonperishable food items at each of the participating businesses. Though the actual Downtown Dollars promotion ended on December 7, the “Shop N’ Drop” part of the promotion carried on until the end of the year when all of the food collected was donated to the Hays Community Assistance Center.
The winners of the 4th Annual Downtown Dollars Giveaway individual prizes are as follows: Around the World- Kris Kuksi, Bildschon Haus- Candace Yost, Brunswick Antique Mall- Laura Denny, Café Semolino- Vicky Cowan, C.S. Post & Co.- Audrey Smyl, Dennis Schiel Studio & Gallery- No winner, Dwayne’s Designs- Chris Hadley, Furniture Look- Wendy Beougher, Gella’s Diner & Lb. Brewing Co.- Erica Stephens, Good Book Store- Wendy Beougher, Goodwin Sporting Goods- Joel Willhoft, Hamm’s True Value- Henrieta Werth, Kuhn’s Diamond Jewelers- Dayna Schmidt, Midwest Music- Ed Gil, Northglen Antiques- Michael Stremel, Salon 1007- No winner and Simply Charmed- Judy Parks.
The actual Downtown Dollars were awarded to the following: $300 Downtown Dollars- Debby Weber, $500 Downtown Dollars- Mandy Charles and $1000 Downtown Dollars- Wendy Beougher.
As noted above, there was no winner announced for the individual prize from Dennis Schiel Studio & Gallery and Salon 1007 since no winner was present to claim the prize after five winning numbers had been drawn.
The 5th Annual Downtown Dollars Giveaway and Shop N’ Drop promotion will kick off during the Downtown Holiday Open House weekend, November 7-9, 2008, and go till the Sunday of FrostFest weekend, December 7, 2008.