Downtown Tuscumbia businesses invite visitors to ‘Carecrow’ Trail

For small business owners, thinking of ways to help bring in customers is all part of the process.

Businesses in downtown Tuscumbia may have come up with a way to not only increase engagement but raise money for a good cause as well.

The Downtown Tuscumbia Merchants group is hosting a “Carecrow” Trail.

Throughout the month of October until Nov. 15, participating businesses will have a unique scarecrow on display.

Visitors will be able to walk around the area, get a few photos with the creations and then go online to vote for their favorite.

Each business owner has picked a nonprofit to benefit. Each vote costs $1, and you can vote as many times as you like.

Voting ends on Nov. 16. The business that raises the most funds will be announced shortly after and prizes and/or bragging rights will be awarded.

The voting form can be found at https://form.jotform.com/242614611709151.

“Kevin Johnson from Kingpin’s came up with the idea,” said Tuscumbia Council member and owner of Basse Trading Company Katie Logan. “It’s a way to get people to come downtown and give back to the community. Everybody participating has a scarecrow that represents their nonprofit, and anyone can come take pictures with them and post them on social media. People can also give to any of those charities, and some of the businesses are holding drives for specific items needed by their nonprofit.”

Participating businesses include Kingpin’s (Breast Cancer Research of Alabama), Basse (Concerns of Police Survivors), Pharmhouse Apothecary and Charlie’s Coffee Company (Fame Girls Ranch), Fiddledee D’s (Tigers Feeding Tigers), Audie Mescal (Tuscumbia Education Foundation) and Coldwater Seed and Supply (Colbert Caring Center).

“Some of our nonprofits are local, but no one knows about them,” Logan said. “This gives people a chance to not only check out the downtown businesses and their art but check out those charities as well.

“We are always trying to think of ideas to bring people downtown. We love downtown. There are some great shops and restaurants, and we want to share some of these nonprofits that maybe don’t get as much recognition.”