Shop local in Mission until Dec. 15 and pay it forward even more.
This year’s Pay it Forward campaign, which raises thousands of dollars for the Mission Christmas Bureau, started off Nov. 22 at the Christmas Tree lighting at the Junction mall, and runs until Dec. 15. Through this endeavour, five cents from each local receipt collected will be donated to the organization. In its inaugural effort last year, 48,623 receipts were collected.
The goal this year, said Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce president Sean Melia, is 90,000 receipts, which translates into $4,500.
“It really is quite simple. Let us know you shop in Mission by sending us your receipts and we will donate for you,” he said.
The final receipt count and donation amount will be announced at the chamber’s Christmas luncheon, Dec. 19.
“Remember you always pay it forward when you shop local,” said Melia. “You pay local wages which pay rents that keep our local economy humming. Your money circulates in town up to 75 times. Thank you for choosing to shop in Mission this holiday season.”
Pay it Forward is supported by business sponsorship. Collection boxes for receipts are placed around Mission including the chamber offices. Any Mission business can participate as long as they have a drop box that includes the Pay It Forward sticker or logo.
Shop local benefits:
• Choosing to shop in your local community provides direct economic benefit.
• Shop at a large chain, $47 of every $100 remains in the community through wages and additional purchasing.
• Shop at a locally owned business and this increases to $73 of every $100.
• Those dollars then circulate in the community 75 times.
The Mission Christmas Bureau has been operating for more than 25 years and serves about 700 families. For more information call Sanjay Gulati at Mission Community Services at 604-826-3634.
Check the Chamber Facebook page and website for regular updates on the counts and see who is choosing to Pay It Forward.
