Last Chance! You CAN win! Downtown supports the Crisis Center

Recipe for today through Sunday, August 1: 

• Bring your cans to the businesses listed below.
• Fill out one entry form per can donated.
• Be eligible for one of three gift coupon baskets worth $500 each.

Result: win win all around, and especially for the Crisis Center--- Read on:

Twenty  local businesses are joining the fight against hunger in our community by supporting the Crisis Center Food Bank’s Thanksgiving in July Event. “We're giving away the most food bags that we ever have," said Beth Ritter Ruback, communication and development director at the center." In the past 10 years, it's more than doubled. The need for food is great in our community is great- especially during the summer months as school age children are at home. Downtown Iowa City businesses want to help.

Twenty locally owned and/or operated businesses in downtown Iowa City (Discerning Eye, Textiles, RSVP, Herteen and Stocker, Hands Jewelers, Beadology, Om, Dulcinea, Lorenz, Fired Up, Technigraphics, Iowa Artisans Gallery & DJ Rinner Goldsmith, Bella Joli, Modela, Sweets and Treats, Glassando, Velvet Coat, Revival, Active Endeavors and Home Ec Workshop), have joined the fight against hunger by collecting canned goods continuing through this weekend Sunday, August 1.

These donated cans will be displayed in store windows or within in-store displays to create a visual representation of community helping community. To encourage donations, each donations will allow patrons entry into a drawing for three sizable downtown gift certificate baskets. Each basket will contain one gift certificate from each participating business-that’s 20 gift certificates in all! Patrons are encouraged to bring in as many cans as they can carry to as many businesses as they can visit to increase chances of winning. Three names will be drawn on Monday, August 2. Look for the "Small Businesses Have Big Hearts" poster displayed in your favorite stores and bring in a can or two before time runs out-The Downtown Can Drive Ends Sunday!

The economic slow down, job layoffs, termination of unemployment benefits, rising food and medical costs-the list goes on. There are many reasons for the increased requests for food assistance in Johnson County.  Thanksgiving in July is a community-wide food drive that provides assistance to the hungry, homeless and working poor.

Your Downtown shares a common commitment to community- bring in your donations and watch our store windows fill!