An effort to install LED lights across the facades of the historic buildings lining Highway 9 in Boulder Creek, nicknamed “the CANpaign,” is back in full swing.
Downtown Boulder Creek merchants have placed cans on their counters to collect the $16,000 needed to replace nonfunctional strings of bulbs with LED lights.
The campaign originally started in September and raised more than $4,000, which is in a Boulder Creek Business Association savings account. Fundraising slowed after the holidays, so organizers have restarted the effort.
A painted thermometer at the gas station on the corner of Highway 9 and Highway 236 has been updated, and a one merchant took the effort a bit farther.
Craig Mace, the store manager at New Leaf Market in Boulder Creek, placed signs at registers and started asking customers to donate to the CANpaign fund using a programmable button at the registers.
“We came up with the idea because we have done similar things for other fundraisers, like muscular dystrophy,” Mace said.
Cashiers ask shoppers to consider giving to the fund as they check out, and they have the option of typing in a dollar amount to contribute.
“So many people pay with credit or debit, it just makes sense,” Mace said.
Donations can also be made online.
Boulder Creek Business Association also hopes to start looking into bids for solar energy to help power the lights and potentially as a power source for businesses. Business representatives can call Karen Mayer, 338-9355, to arrange a meeting and review the scope of the work for both the campaign and solar projects.
How to help
Contributions to Boulder Creek Business Association’s fundraiser to light up downtown Boulder Creek can be made in local stores, online or by mail.
- www.facebook.com/BoulderCreekCalifornia/app_215451685152603?ref=ts
- BCBA CANpaign Fund, P.O. Box 611, Boulder Creek, CA 95006
