MOOSOMIN — The annual MacLeod Elementary School Community Council’s Shop Local Gift Card Fundraiser continues to see local success. This year, $138,000 worth of gift cards were sold, an increase of $8,000 from 2023, with around $8,500 coming back to the SCC. This is the fourth year for the fundraiser.
“More people are aware of it now, and with the added extra businesses, it helps,” said Shannon Beckett, SCC chair when asked what she attributes to the continued success of the fundraising initiative.
This year four more businesses signed up to be part of the program for a total of 24 participating businesses. Students from MacLeod were tasked with selling the gift cards from Sept. 26 to Oct. 25, with incentives to participate.
“There was some gift cards to the top sellers, and every kid that sold even one card would get a prize,” Beckett explained.
This year, the SCC will put funds toward playground equipment, but next year’s proceeds will be more widespread.
“I think next year we’re just going to do them for the SCC initiatives, which in turn will donate some to the playground, but then we can use some to buy books for the kids or help pay for swimming costs,” Beckett said.
Given the timely nature of the campaign, some businesses around Moosomin have used their purchased gift cards as part of Christmas bonuses for employees, further bolstering the local economy.
