
Donations are coming up shy of the $5,000 goal, six months into the year-long Freeport 10% Tote fundraising campaign to benefit the Freeport Community Services food pantry.
Sponsored by FreeportUSA, the totes cost $5 and are available at nine locations across Freeport, including the Freeport Community Center Thrift Shop on Depot Street and Thrift Shop Annex on West Street.
“They’ve been available since just before the holiday shopping season,” said FreeportUSA Executive Director Kelly Edwards, “and we’re hoping that we’ll have a boost in sales now that summer shopping has picked up.”
Edwards said approximately 200 of the 1,000 available totes have sold so far. With a Freeport 10% Tote, the purchaser is eligible for a 10-percent discount at 24 participating businesses.
“The tote is reusable and its easy to make your money back on it,” said Edwards. “It’s for a great cause, too, and we’ve been getting more calls about them recently, so I think we will sell out.”
Edwards said that 100 percent of proceeds from tote sales go to support the food pantry, and the bags can be used to redeem discounts until Dec. 31, 2014.
The tote campaign is the brainchild of former executive director Janet Dutson, who resigned in February. This is the first year of fundraising through tote sales, Edwards said, adding that FreeportUSA also hosts a silent art auction annually to benefit the food pantry.
Participating businesses include American Eagle, Clark’s, FIORE, Island Treasure Toys, Pet Pantry, The Wishful Moon, Wilbur’s of Maine and others. For more information or to order a tote by mail, visit www.freeportusa.com/freeport-bag.
FreeportUSA is a nonprofit destination marketing association whose member merchants provide visitors with information about the town. The organization publishes the FreeportUSA Map & Visitor Guide, maintains an informational website and two information resource centers at the Amtrak Downeaster train station and on Main Street.
FREEPORTUSA IS A nonprofit destination marketing association whose member merchants provide visitors with information about the town. The organization publishes the FreeportUSA Map & Visitor Guide, maintains an informational website and two information resource centers at the Amtrak Downeaster train station and on Main Street.
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