1st Annual Eureka Springs Community Gift Exchange

12/19/2021

Picked up our gift from the gift exchange. If I do say so, I look very much like Ralphie 🤣
Can’t wait to open it!

12/19/2021

Today's the day!
If you dropped off a gift for the gift exchange, please bring your ticket and pick up your gift between 12 noon and 5 p.m. today at the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce.
***NOTE***
If you are not fully vaccinated we do ask that you please wear a mask while you are inside the building. We will have masks on hand for those that do not have them.
We appreciate your cooperation and your participation in the event.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

12/17/2021

FINAL DAY to take your gifts to any of the drop off locations by 4 p.m. today. The gifts will be picked up later this afternoon.
Don't miss out on fun! Please refer to the information on our page if you don't know the drop-off locations.
Thank you so much to the people who are participating. It is going to be fun and exciting!
And if you dropped off a gift, please be sure to come to the Chamber of Commerce this Sunday, December 19th, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. to exchange your ticket for a random gift from another member of the community.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

12/16/2021

Just dropped off my present! 🎁

12/16/2021

ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT!
If you haven't done so already, please be sure and drop your gift(s) off today at one of the drop off locations for the event on Sunday.

And don't forget to keep your "exchange ticket". You will have to have it on Sunday to receive a return gift.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

12/14/2021

3 DAYS LEFT to drop your gifts off at one of the drop off locations.
There's still time, so please feel free to share and encourage your friends to join in on the fun.
🎁🙂🎄

Also, FYI. A few businesses have reached out and asked if it's okay to give a gift certificate to their business and do their gift as a business, as well as an individual. Of course you can, yes! It's a great way to advertise and possibly gain a new customer.

12/12/2021

Happy Sunday!

We have heard a few comments from business owners and employees who have said they would like to participate in this but can't, due to the fact that they will be working during the hours of the gift exchange.
We certainly do not want anyone excluded that would like to participate in this event.
If you work in the Eureka Springs city limits and will be working during the gift exchange on Sunday the 19th but want to participate in the event, please go ahead and drop off your gift(s) at any of the drop off locations and then send us a message letting us know that you will be working and we will bring your gift directly to you.

If you are disabled, have no transportation, or any other circumstances beyond your control prevents you from dropping off a gift, please let us know and we will come and pick up your gift from you and deliver your exchange gift to you.

This is a community-wide event and we do not want to exclude ANYONE.

And just a reminder to those who plan to participate. There are 5 days left to take your gift(s) to any of the drop off locations.

12/10/2021

It's almost time!!!
If you haven't already taken your gift(s) to one of the drop off locations, you have one week from today.
Next Friday, December 17th is the cutoff date to drop you gifts off.

Thank you so much to those who already have and to those who are going to.

Here is a reminder list of the drop off locations:

Eureka & Company, 1 Center St. Downtown Eureka Springs

E.S. Chamber of Commerce, 44 Kingshighway, Eureka Springs

Route 62 General Store, 2080 E. Van Buren, Eureka Springs

The Ladybug Emporium, 51 S Main St., Downtown Eureka Springs

12/04/2021

Good afternoon everybody!
December 17th is coming up very quickly and will be here before we know it!
That is the cutoff date for dropping off your gift(s) for the community gift exchange.
The gifts are wrapped when they are dropped off so none of us know what's in them, but there have been a few people that just simply could not resist the urge to "spill the beans" and I can tell you that there are some really unique gifts that are being given.
If you have any questions you can call (479) 244-5157.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

11/27/2021

Just a reminder that although the actual gift exchange itself will take place on Sunday, December 19th, you may drop your gift(s) off at any of the four drop off locations NOW.

The drop-off locations began accepting gifts last Saturday and will accept them through Friday, December 17th.

People are getting excited and I'm happy to say that we are getting great participation so far.
We invite you to jump in and join us for this fun Community event.

11/26/2021

Greetings everybody!

We are getting some really good questions from people about the event so I wanted to make a FAQ list and answer the ones I can.

I'm sure we will get more questions that would be beneficial to the community. I will post answers to those questions on this page as needed.

1. Is there a limit to how many gifts a person can give and receive?

Answer: No. A person may give as many gifts as they wish. Those giving gifts will receive one gift exchange ticket for each gift given.

2. Can my business participate?

Answer: Yes. When giving your gift, you may do so as an individual or a business.

3. Do I HAVE to be a resident of Eureka Springs?

Answer: No. The main purpose of the event is to allow the community to reconnect on a social level by having fun and doing a random act of kindness without the worry of socializing in large groups.
However, ANYONE from ANYWHERE may participate.
In fact, we encourage everyone to do so.

4. Can we give homemade food items?

Answer: Due to safety and health issues, we ask that no homemade treats be given. However, unopened store bought goodies are allowed.

11/23/2021

Hi everybody!!
Just wanted to let you all know that we have secured the location for the gift exchange on Sunday, December 19th, from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
The gift exchange will take place at the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce, 44 Kingshighway, Eureka Springs.
Please be sure and bring your ticket that you receive when you drop off your gift at any of the drop off location.
You MUST have the ticket in order to receive your gift.

Thanks!

11/17/2021

JOIN US FOR THIS FUN, EXCITING HOLIDAY EVENT! 🎁🎅❤

How it Works:

Any resident of Eureka Springs age 16 and up who wishes to participate can drop off a WRAPPED gift at any of the four locations listed, beginning Saturday, November 20th.

Locations are:
Eureka & Company, 1 Center St., Downtown Eureka Springs
(At the top of the rainbow staircase)

Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce, 44 Kingshighway, Eureka Springs
(Across from the Eureka Springs Community Center)

Route 62 General Store, 2080 E. Van Buren, Eureka Springs
(Across from Pine Mtn. Village)

The Ladybug Emporium, 51 S Main St., Downtown Eureka Springs
(across from the Courthouse)

When a gift is dropped off, the “Secret Santa” will be given an “exchange ticket” which they will bring to the gift exchange event on Sunday, December 19th, any time between 12:00 noon until 5 p.m. at the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce, where they will exchange their ticket for a random gift from a fellow Eureka Springs “Secret Santa”.

Gift Rules:

We ask that each gift be valued between $10 - $20.

Seeing as Eureka Springs is a very artsy community, handmade gifts are accepted. However, we do ask that the gifts be new. No used gifts, please.

Gifts need to be gender neutral, as they will be handed back out randomly and will not be divided by gender.

Please include a kind note with your gift. We can all use a word of encouragement during these difficult times.

You may give your gift “anonymously”, or you may include your name if you would like. It would be interesting to see who gets a gift from someone they already know. There is also the possibility of making new life long friends right here in your own community.

Please be sure your gifts are wrapped. Remember, this is like a “Secret” Santa gift exchange.

Once you drop off your gift, be sure to HOLD ON TO YOUR TICKET to receive your random gift in return. THIS TICKET MUST BE PRESENTED AT THE GIFT EXCHANGE EVENT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR GIFT! No gifts will be distributed to anyone without a ticket.
This is very important! We have no way of knowing who donated a gift without an exchange ticket.
Additional Information:

Although the purpose of the event is to bring the Eureka Springs community together for some holiday fun, we are a very welcoming community who does not exclude anyone, so the event is open to anyone and everyone to be a part of, regardless of where they live.

If you have any questions, please feel free to message us on our page and an admin. will return your message as soon as possible.

Thank you, and Happy Holidays!

11/14/2021

About the event:
Eureka Springs is a very close knit community whose residents, like other communities, have suffered from social distancing, affecting our social events that we miss so much.
People have begun “loosening their belts” a little, and while there is still a sense of safety concerns and protocols to follow, we have begun to see a certain level of social activity return to our quaint little town.
This is just another event for Eureka Springs residents to have some holiday fun. And what better way to do so than to commit a random act of kindness.

This will be an annual event and will eventually involve all participants being together at once to enjoy the gift exchange process. However, we are not quite there yet, so this year we will be doing the gift exchange event over a 5 hr. period which will allow participants to come and go without several people being in the same room all at once.

11/14/2021

11/14/2021