Belk has invited schools and other nonprofit organizations in the company’s 16-state market area to participate in its semiannual Belk Charity Sale on April 27. The four-hour, in-store shopping event serves as a fundraising tool for participating organizations, allowing shoppers to support local charities while taking advantage of special discounts. Those who buy a $5 ticket will be invited to the store between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. for a special discounted shopping event. Participating charities receive the proceeds from advance ticket sales. Kelly Freese, store manager of the Belk in Cumming’s Lakeland Plaza, said she’s proud of her company’s “investment back into the community.”“It’s actually my favorite event that we do,” she said. “It’s all community driven. It’s all supporting everything here — for the schools to get uniforms, for the humane society to get the food and shelter they need to take care of the animals and things like that.” Freese said the two charity sales last year at her store raised more than $25,000 for local nonprofits. To date, she said “ticket sales have been phenomenal.” Those interested in getting tickets can do so through participating nonprofits, or at the Belk store beginning April 19. However, tickets purchased directly from Belk will split the $5 evenly between all the participating charities, so those wanting to give to a particular cause should go directly to the organization. Freese said the charities also have been taking turns manning a ticket table in the department store.“They’ve been in our store selling them for the past several months and they keep all of those proceeds,” she said. “Every year the charity sale continues to grow and grow. We have people three, four months in advance saying, ‘When can we get our tickets?’” In addition to sale prices during the event, the first 100 customers to arrive will receive a Belk gift card ranging in value from $5 to $100, and a chance to win one of three $1,000 Belk gift cards being awarded companywide. Also, participating charities and schools will be registered to win one of three $1,000 donations from Belk in a drawing.
Belk has invited schools and other nonprofit organizations in the company’s 16-state market area to participate in its semiannual Belk Charity Sale on April 27. The four-hour, in-store shopping event serves as a fundraising tool for participating organizations, allowing shoppers to support local charities while taking advantage of special discounts. Those who buy a $5 ticket will be invited to the store between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. for a special discounted shopping event. Participating charities receive the proceeds from advance ticket sales. Kelly Freese, store manager of the Belk in Cumming’s Lakeland Plaza, said she’s proud of her company’s “investment back into the community.”“It’s actually my favorite event that we do,” she said. “It’s all community driven. It’s all supporting everything here — for the schools to get uniforms, for the humane society to get the food and shelter they need to take care of the animals and things like that.” Freese said the two charity sales last year at her store raised more than $25,000 for local nonprofits. To date, she said “ticket sales have been phenomenal.” Those interested in getting tickets can do so through participating nonprofits, or at the Belk store beginning April 19. However, tickets purchased directly from Belk will split the $5 evenly between all the participating charities, so those wanting to give to a particular cause should go directly to the organization. Freese said the charities also have been taking turns manning a ticket table in the department store.“They’ve been in our store selling them for the past several months and they keep all of those proceeds,” she said. “Every year the charity sale continues to grow and grow. We have people three, four months in advance saying, ‘When can we get our tickets?’” In addition to sale prices during the event, the first 100 customers to arrive will receive a Belk gift card ranging in value from $5 to $100, and a chance to win one of three $1,000 Belk gift cards being awarded companywide. Also, participating charities and schools will be registered to win one of three $1,000 donations from Belk in a drawing.