
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 30, 1993                   TAG: 9309300415
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VINTON STILL NEEDS DONATIONS TO BUY CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

In the sweltering heat of summer, passersby in downtown Vinton might have been puzzled by a Christmas decoration or two hanging from utility poles.

Vinton was trying out new Christmas decorations to replace its 10-year-old ones. The Vinton Chamber of Commerce decided it was time to buy new decorations, but there was a catch - the cost had tripled.

On June 1, with samples hanging downtown as a reminder to donate, the chamber opened a campaign to raise $12,000 for new decorations.

The chamber also mailed letters to merchants, and Kroger employees stuffed fliers into grocery bags to promote community awareness of the project.

Jim Reynolds, chamber president, said 63 merchants, 10 clubs, 36 individuals, five schools and the town of Vinton contributed a total of $8,518 to the campaign - not enough to make the original order.

Reynolds said he is pleased so many groups and individuals contributed. But the chamber had to scale down its wish list to $9,300 - enough to buy 66 banners and some lighted wreaths for prominent areas downtown.

Money is still needed to pay for the order when it arrives within the next several weeks.

"The Chamber of Commerce cannot afford to go into the red on this. We still need another $500 to possibly $1,000 to cover the cost of the decorations and campaign expenses," Reynolds said.

"We tried to get as much value as we could," Reynolds said. Banners are cost-efficient, because they do not require lighting and may be used for other occasions, such as the annual Dogwood Festival, he said.

Judy Cunningham, chamber secretary, said if donations allow, more decorations can be added to the order before Oct. 15, but the chamber's primary goal now is to pay for the current order.

Cunningham said once the new decorations are delivered, the chamber and the town will work together to map out the locations of the new decorations.

Contributions for the decoration fund can be sent to the Vinton Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 83, Vinton, Va. 24179.

by CNB