City to give $100 gift cards Saturday

By Sandy Morris

The deadline to apply for a $100 Brookshire’s gift card courtesy of the CARES Act is fast approaching. 

At the suggestion of mayor Susan Montgomery, the city council, working in conjunction with city manager Billy Holson and local Brookshire’s store director Curt Manning, established a grocery gift card distribution process. 

“This is a way the city is reaching out to our citizens during the holiday time since this year has been very trying on everyone,” said Montgomery, who encouraged anyone affected by the pandemic to apply.

The mayor said that while there is not a true application, people will have to sign a form stating they have been affected by COVID in some capacity during this year. 

“We have made arrangements to purchase and distribute more than 250 Brookshire’s gift cards valued at $100 each,” said Montgomery. 

Holson said only one gift card will be issued to a single family or household.

“The requirements are very broad, but the city does have to document how the money was disbursed,” Holson stated. “By signing your name to this form, you verify that you have been affected by COVID in some way, and by providing your address, we can verify that you live in the city limits.”

Holson states he fully expects for the city to be audited on the use of these funds and must ensure all documentation is in order. 

Holson emphasized that the gift cards are for residents only living inside the city limits. 

“We realize there are parts of town that actually fall outside of the city limits, and we wish we could extend this offer,” Holson stated. “We don’t want this to come back on the city because we didn’t follow the rules. 

This Saturday, Dec. 5, residents who have completed their paperwork with the city will be able to come down to City Hall and pick up their gift card. 

Residents who have not already provided their address and signature can still apply for a gift card on that day, but there may not be any additional cards available. 

The gift cards will only be able to be used to buy grocery items, and recipients of the cards are encouraged to shop the local Brookshire’s store to redeem their cards. 

“We reached out to the merchants early in the year,” said Montgomery. “Now we want to do what we can to help our residents, because we know everyone has been affected by COVID.”

Because the City Hall doors are locked, residents are encouraged to call 325-762-3133 during normal business hours before going to apply for a gift card.