Chamber wraps up annual program

Published 12:00 am Monday, January 3, 2005

It's a wrap at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce – the wrap up of their "All Wrapped Up in the Spirit of Christmas" gift-wrapping campaign, that is.

According to Annie Glenn Branum of the Chamber, a total of 1,081 gifts purchased at local businesses were brought through the chamber doors during the holiday shopping season to be wrapped by Chamber of Commerce employees and community volunteers.

The gift-wrap was complimentary, along with holiday refreshments and good cheer offered to those who brought in their presents to be wrapped.

The gift-wrap campaign's goal is to encourage Christmas shoppers to buy in the Camellia City

– and the effort seems to have paid off.

"We had a total of $26,781 in gifts, purchased at 25 area businesses, brought in for wrapping this year," says Branum.

Not surprisingly, two of the city's largest stores had the lion's share of presents sold.

"The two businesses with the largest number of gifts brought in for wrapping were the Wal-Mart Super Center and Goody's," Branum says.

Shoppers who wished to donate to a good cause were encouraged to share their spare change to help raise money for the Greenville YMCA, with approximately $200 raised for the new facility.

"We appreciate everyone who participated in our gift wrap program and shopped at home – we hope to have an even bigger and better program next year," says Greenville Chamber of Commerce Director Carol Lee.