If you’re planning to be out in Carrboro today for the annual Holiday Parade, maybe you should stick around afterward for some shopping, Chances are, a portion of your money will go toward some really good causes.

“It’s a real demonstration of the strength of local,” said Carrboro Economic and Community Development Director Annette Stone, “and so that’s what this is about.”

She and Clay Schossow of the Carrboro Business Alliance spoke to WCHL recently about today’s “Carrboro Cares” initiative. The hope is that “Carrboro Cares” will generate business from people who come out for the Holiday Parade.

And that will also generate donations to local non-profit organizations.

“This is something we’re really excited about,” said Schossow. “All along, the Alliance wanted to have their own events, but also, piggyback on other events, where we could make a difference, and really impact the crowds that were already out there.

“We’re going to have a great turnout for the parade. And we realized a way to keep those folks around in the area afterwards, and spend their dollars locally, while also, doing so for a good cause.”

The Carrboro Business Alliance formed just six months ago, with support from the Board of Aldermen, to promote local businesses and get them to speak with one voice.

Participating businesses in today’s “Carrboro Cares” effort will donate a percentage of sales to a local non-profit of their choice.

“If you go to Carrburritos, five percent of those sales are going to go to Haw River Assembly,” said Schossow. “If you go to Townsend Bertram & Company, same thing. If you go to Spotted Dog, they’ll go to Friends of OCDSS. And the list goes on.”

So far, at least 20 businesses, located throughout Carrboro, have signed up to donate at least five percent of sales today.

The Chapel Hill & Carrboro Annual Holiday Parade begins at 10 a.m. at Morehead Planetarium. It runs down Franklin Street to Main Street in Carrboro, and finishes at noon at Carrboro Town Hall.

There will be a Parade Central station set up at 300 East Main Street, and there’s talk of hot chocolate.

You can check out a list of participating businesses in “Carrboro Cares,” as well as the nonprofits they’re individually supporting, right here.

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