Pint-for-Pint
Ever donated blood? I have. I didn’t get the most awesome ice cream coupon for doing it, though. I just got crummy old money.
But that’s exactly what’s happening in Farmington. MountainStar Blood Services is offering those giving back to their community by donating blood, coupons from a little place called Subzero Ice Cream in Centerville. With the temperatures where they’re at, and those to come this summer, that ice cream is going to be well appreciated. But so is the donated blood. These coupons are good for shakes, ice cream and various frosty, tasty treats. The name of the promotion… You’ll love this… “Pint-for-Pint”.
Marilyn Paralta, MBS Director, says that this has been a very lucky year for them. As of the writing of this article, they have been able to easily meet all the needs for blood. But just in case, they wanted to do something that would not only assure their continued success but do something for the community that is so giving. Thus the “Pint-for-Pint” promotional drive. This was planned to be a one month campaign but has now been extended to two (July and August) due to its success and popularity.
If you would like to get in on the fun, you can call 1-877-45-BLOOD to find the location of a mobile blood drive unit near you. Or if you’re passing through Ogden, stop in at Suite #105, 5405 South 500 during relatively normal business hours and get your Pint-for-Pint.
A community is only as good as its least fortunate members
A section of “Travel Portland”, Downtown Marketing Initiative for the second year in a row is presenting their well planned agenda entitled “Compassion Coupons”. Why you may ask?
Just try driving through downtown and you’ll see the summertime dodge-‘em game, played daily, with cars vs. scores of homeless individuals sitting, standing and wandering around the side of the street, their pit bulls at their side. “Please give”, “anything helps”, “hungry-need food”, “will work for food”… All sorts of roughly scribbled, weathered, cardboard signs in their hands.
Nobody’s happy about this. Not the locals, not the tourists, not the merchants and particularly not the homeless. Compassion Coupons allows summer shoppers a significant discount on services and goods and allows the town’s merchants a chance at some good, free, PR conscious publicity. Not to mention $10,000 being put toward a project that goes by the name of the Bud Clark Commons. The Commons is located in Old Town, towers up seven stories, and is a residential building that houses low-income and homeless individuals with its 130 apartments.
Downtown Marketing Initiatives executive director believes that without partnerships, nothing good can happen in the downtown area. It’s all about people. The recent new owner at Southwest Park Avenue’s Energy Bar Snack Shop has already had a couple of customers since July 1 with the special coupons. They’re even available on smart phones. Merchants, and others in this town, look upon this as a chance to do the right thing for your fellow man. It is not without its benefits however. Merchants hope to generate business with these coupons. The decision was originally made last year because of the downtown area’s desire to create reasons for businesses to establish themselves in the downtown area, for the continuance of the downtown area itself and while doing so still give back to the community. In the beginning participation was received from approximately 30 businesses. By the end of summer however donations were coming in. New Avenues for Youth received a donation of $25,000, thanks to Compassion Coupons last year.
Examples of discounts offered by this year’s 20 businesses are:
- Two-for-one coupon for the Oregon Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” production
- Two-for-one lunch consisting of falafel-hummus at the Energy Bar
- $1.00 off coupon for evening parking from SmartPack
And that’s just a taste. These coupons are downloadable to either a smart phone or onto paper, and the program will wrap up on August 31. Every coupon redeemed goes toward the goal of a $10,000 donation. The Bud Clark Commons will feature a mentoring program with this money for the instruction of people who were formerly homeless to utilize their knowledge and experience by reaching out to other homeless or low-income individuals (numbering possibly 500 or more) that are still confined to a life on the street.
Now we’re talking coupons!