Everyone knows local currency is the perfect gift for the people on your list but there’s one organization that is using local currency as a reward to “catch” locals following safety protocol (like good driving) and doing good deeds.
The Shenandoah, Iowa Police Department, in cooperation with the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association, are in the process of distributing $1500 in chamber bucks to local citizens. The program was made possible by a group of generous donors. According to Police Chief Kris Grebert, the citizens “saw an article about officers in Kansas City that were making traffic stops, and handing out $100 bills to people that were obeying the traffic laws, wearing their seat belts, coming to complete stops–things like that. So, they thought that would be a great idea here, but they wanted it to benefit the city of Shenandoah, also.”
The officers have 26 envelopes with $50 each in them to help brighten a good citizen’s day. Shenandoah’s local gift certificates can be used at 70 participating members including a mix of retail stores, restaurants, and businesses. Ernie Aust received an envelope for serving a meal at his church and others like him have received the same.
It’s a nice way not only to acknowledge people “doing good” and doing the right thing but to share some of that goodness with the local merchants as well. People who receive these gift certificates are going to have a merrier holiday and they’ll spend the money locally, something that may not have happened otherwise. Plus the average gift card user ends up spending on average about 20% over what the card is worth. That means extra cheer for local businesses.
Do you have a unique way you are getting your chamber bucks out there? Share it with us in the comments below and you might be featured in a upcoming blog post. After all, here at Conpoto we like to catch people “doing good” as well.
