The Crookston chapter of the BIO Girls club donated $1456 this week to the Crookston Chamber of Commerce for the upcoming Small Business Saturday marketing. The BIO Girls raised the money through a virtual run-a-thon.
BIO Girls uses three pillars to build self-esteem in young girls, explains Crookston leader Anita Gust. “BIO girls are Beautiful Inside and Out,” said Gust. “It’s a youth program for girls in second through sixth grade based on mentorship, community service, and physical activity with a goal of improving self-esteem in young girls in various communities throughout the area.”
This year, the service project gives back to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. “Our donation was a part of our service project for the year,” said Gust. “We had the girls do a run-a-thon. The girls would ask friends, family, extended family to sponsor them for so many miles. The girls kept track of their miles over the course of six weeks. In August, we collected the money and raised $1,456. We decided to give back to small businesses knowing that many small businesses were possibly hurting due to the pandemic.”
Crookston Chamber Executive Director Terri Heggie said the funds would be used to market Small Business Saturday in November to encourage consumers to shop local small businesses. “They understand the impact that COVID has had on our area and wanted to be able to help them out,” said Heggie. “The money they raised through their fundraiser we are going to put into our Small Business Saturday marketing. Last year, our Channel Your Flannel was a huge hit in Crookston with a great turnout. We are going to use it toward marketing through social media, local marketing like KROX and the Times, and outside the area to make it a draw for people to come out to support local and Small Business Saturday. That’s on Saturday, November 28. It’s always the Saturday following Thanksgiving.”
