With the holidays barreling down upon us, oftentimes we get caught up in the busyness of the holidays, especially if you own a business.
As a business or community organization, can you take time to give back a little to the community? In one instance, you may be rewarded with more than just the great feeling of giving back and contributing.
Holiday Lighting Contest
This lighting contest involves residents, commercial buildings and store frontage.
This annual contest rewards the participants with cash rewards and marketing equivalence.
Here’s how it works: decorate your home or business by Nov. 29. The lights need to stay on every evening between 6 and 8 p.m. until Dec. 31. While the lights don’t come on until Nov. 29, you must register to enter your home or business by Friday, Nov. 15.
A link to register will be on the home page of the Chamber website, www.pagosachamber.com. If you are decorating, why not enter to win some prizes and also be on the tour for people to see your lovely decorations?
For residents, you could win $1,000, $500 or $250. For free-standing businesses, the prizes are the same except for the amounts are in the equivalence of advertising credit with The Pagosa Springs SUN. For storefronts, the prizes are $500, $250 and $125 in marketing credits with The SUN.
Go to https://bit/ly/2024LightingContestSignUp.
Salvation Army red kettle bell ringing
Started in 1891 by Salvation Army Capt. Joseph McFee in San Francisco, Calif., to provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute, this annual event takes place in front of City Market from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24 except for Thanksgiving Day.
Many organizations participate in this event every year. However, there are still a few days and slots still open, including a few Sundays.
Is this a program that your business or organization might adopt? Or perhaps a few smaller businesses could band together to cover a full day.
With 90 percent of the funds staying in Archuleta County, it is very possible that some of your employees have been the recipient of their generosity through food banks, emergency services, family support programs or rehabilitation programs. Some of your employees might want to give back and support this worthy cause.
For more information, you can contact Tom Bruin, volunteer coordinator, at thomas.bellringing@tuta.com or (224) 730-7910.
Old-Fashioned Christmas
This unique event takes strollers along the Riverwalk between Town Park and Centennial Park, Mary Fisher Park and the Visitor Center on Dec. 21.
Along the route, businesses, groups and nonprofits adopt a space to share good cheer with the community.
This is not a commercial event for your organization, and fundraising and the sales of products is prohibited. Participating certainly gives your business or organization exposure, and all participants are encouraged to create a welcoming ambiance.
You can create a musically themed booth or other fun experience to create that “old-fashioned Christmas” theme.
To find out more about how your business or organization can participate, contact Becky Engel at (970) 585-4820 or coordinator@visitpagosasprings.com.
It is hard to make time and take time out of your business to participate in community events. That being said, if we don’t participate, these events don’t happen.
Have you even reached out to staff to see if they would like to participate in some community activity? There are many other activities also being held this time of year such as food, gift and clothing drives. If you can’t commit time, can you commit to even helping with a drive? We are a giving community and there are lots of opportunities.
While we shop local to support our businesses, we can also clean out closets, pick up an extra can or box of food, and enjoy our beautiful community as we engage in the various events this holiday season.
