Volunteers needed for merchant rally

Organizers of a rally to support local businesses are getting ready for the Saturday, Aug. 22 event and are asking volunteers to go to Sarasota News and Books from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, to help with the setup.

The Aug. 31 closure of the bookstore was the catalyst for the event, in which a marketing campaign will be unveiled called “I believe in downtown.”

Saturday’s rally will be held during the Downtown Farmers Market at 10:30 a.m. on State Street.
Wendy Getchell, president of the Downtown Sarasota Merchants Association, said she’s adopting the principles of a national movement called the 3/50 Project, which is designed to save brick-and-mortar stores across the country.

The project asks supporters to choose their three favorite local stores and pledge to spend $50 per month in each one.

“But if you can’t do $50, do $25, or do $10,” said Getchell.

Volunteers will be distributing pledge forms at the rally.

District 13 Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, is scheduled to speak at the rally in support of local businesses.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].