Coles customers in Penticton have raised over $2,500 for the Carmi Elementary School library and counting.
The Cherry Lane book store, through the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation’s Adopt a School program, started raising money for the elementary school on Sept. 14.
In-store, supporters can pay $3 for one entry or $5 for two entries into a draw for a bag of Coles swag valued at $130.
“With an inadequate library budget of less than $30 per student for the entire year, this local school will now have an opportunity to upgrade its library collection and enrich the lives and education of its students,” a spokesperson for the Adopt a School program said in an email.
As of Oct. 1, with five days of fundraising still left to go, Coles had raised $2,597 for Carmi.
Supporters who prefer to shop online can also make purchases from a unique registry of 50 books chosen by Carmi, and Indigo will match each purchase, providing an additional copy of that book to the school.
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Vanyel DeClark, customer experience leader at Coles, told the Penticton Western News that the draw for the prize bag is likely to take place Oct. 7.
After 100 per cent of money raised has been donated to Carmi in the form of an e-gift card, provided along with a 30 per cent discount off books at Indigo when using donations, DeClark said the store will have supported every school in Penticton through the program.
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This year, 182 Canadian elementary schools have been “adopted” by local Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores.
In 2018, the program contributed over $1.1 million to more than 600 schools across the country.
The program is now in its eleventh year of operation.
karissa.gall@blackpress.ca
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