'Merry Money' program begins

The Du Quoin Chamber announced Wednesday night it has begun soliciting businesses to participate in the 2015 holiday "Merry Money" program. "Merry Money" is a program that the chamber started two years ago through a monetary commitment of $250 by the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce to support and encourage Du Quoin area shoppers to purchase items at Du Quoin businesses that participate in this program. There will be four weekly drawings that provide "Merry Money" to participating shoppers. Shoppers become eligible for the weekly drawing by filling out a ticket and placing in a box provided by the chamber at each participating business. Shoppers may fill out a ticket each time they visit a participating business.

For shoppers that participate in the "Merry Money" program, they become eligible for a "give away" amount during each of the four weeks of the Christmas time program. The chamber as part of the total commitment of $250 will hold a drawing in week one of the program in the amount of $25 to be given away, $50 in week two, $75 in week three, with $100 will be given away in week four. Those individuals selected through the weekly drawing will be given a voucher to take to any participating business that can be applied to any purchase. In turn the Chamber will reimburse the business in the amount of the voucher provided to the weekly winner. Here are the drawing dates.

November 25 --$25

December 3--$50

December 10--$75

December 17-- $100

The commitment of the businesses that choose to participate is very simple.

First, we would ask that you allow the Chamber to place a small Christmas decorated box in your business with pre-printed tickets. The tickets can be filled out by potential shoppers as they enter your business for them to sign up for the "Merry Money" program. Second, we ask that you allow a Chamber member to empty the box once a week (on Wednesday prior to the drawing) in order to pick up any tickets that have been filled out for the Chamber to hold the drawing on the dates as mentioned. Third, we ask that any shopper that provides your business with a "Merry Money" voucher that you contact the Chamber office in order that we may reimburse your business in the amount of the voucher provided by the weekly winner. All businesses that choose to participate in the program will be recognized by the Chamber through promotion of the program in the local Du Quoin Evening Call newspaper, Du Quoin Weekly and the local radio station WDQN.

If you have questions or wish to participate in this program we ask that you contact the Chamber Executive Director, Stacy Hirsch at the Chamber office by calling 542-9570 or via e-mail at dqchamber@nwcable.net by Thursday, November 16, 2015. Thank you for your consideration of this program and we look forward to your effort to promote shopping at Du Quoin area businesses.