Batavia MainStreet announced that it is launcing its first-ever Shop Local. Support Our Schools! community weekend September 12–13.

The organization says the two-day event will bring together more than 30 participating downtown Batavia businesses and six Batavia elementary school PTOs for a weekend focused on shopping local, supporting small businesses and giving back to local schools.

Participating schools include:

Participating businesses will donate a portion of qualifying sales to the participating PTOs. Families that shop or dine at participating businesses during their regular business hours just need to mention their school or PTO at checkout.

Batavia MainStreet will collect the donations and distribute the funds evenly among the six participating PTOs.

“Shop Local. Support Our Schools! is an exciting opportunity to bring our schools and downtown businesses together in a way that benefits everyone,” said Kristen Desler Assistant Director of Batavia MainStreet. “Our goal is to connect approximately 1,500 elementary school families with downtown Batavia businesses through a promotion that is mutually beneficial for both.”

Batavia MainStreet says participating businesses will display a Shop Local. Support Our Schools! sign in their windows during the event so families can easily identify where to participate.

In addition to supporting local schools, families can make a day of exploring downtown with the event's School Spirit Passport and School Logo Hunt.

The School Spirit Passport includes an event map featuring participating businesses and gives families an easy way to explore downtown during the weekend.

Kids can also participate in a School Logo Hunt, searching for all six Batavia elementary school logos hidden inside participating businesses. Families who find the logos will receive an additional entry into the event raffle.

Families who make purchases at three participating businesses receive an entry for a chance to win $100 in Downtown Dollars.

Families can find the full list of participating businesses, event details and the School Spirit Passport map on this event page.

“Small businesses receive requests to support organizations and causes throughout the year, and we know they would love to be able to say yes to every one,” said Desler. “By bringing this effort together through MainStreet, we're creating one meaningful opportunity for downtown businesses to support our schools while also introducing their businesses to new customers.”

Batavia MainStreet hopes this first-year initiative will become an annual opportunity to connect local schools and downtown businesses.

If the inaugural Shop Local. Support Our Schools! event is successful, Batavia MainStreet plans to expand the initiative in future years to include Batavia middle school and high school booster organizations.

The goal, they say, is to create a sustainable, community-wide program that gives local businesses one coordinated way to support Batavia students while encouraging families to shop and dine locally.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

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