Dallas Moms :: the Partners Card 2014 will begin Friday, October 24 and continue through Sunday, November 2!
If you’re not already familiar with Partners Card, it’s a “card” you can purchase for $70 that gets you a 20% discount at participating retailers during the 10-day Partners Card shopping period. There are more than 750 area retailers that participate in the program. (You can see the list of retailers here.)
Partners Card is the largest annual fundraiser for The Family Place, a local nonprofit agency that helps families hurt by domestic violence. If you purchase a Partners Card, the entire $70 amount goes directly to The Family Place to fund its efforts against family violence.
The Family Place’s services include an emergency shelter for victims of family violence; long-term housing, education, and training for victims; a crisis hotline; and counseling and education for some of the affected children.
If you’re thinking about getting a Partners Card, here are two things to keep in mind:
First, some of the participating stores can get a bit crowded during the Partners Card shopping period, especially on the weekends. Since the 20% discount applies only during the designated 10 days (this year, October 24-November 2), everyone else with a Partners Card will be out shopping during the same time! If you can find a time to do some of your shopping during the week, I recommend it.
Second, having a Partners Card can create an incentive to spend extra money! I remember the first couple of years that I participated in Partners Card, when I felt like I should spend enough money on my shopping to essentially “recover” the amount I paid for the Partners Card through my discounts. (This year, that would be buying at least $350 worth—in other words, spending $280—to “save” the $70 cost of the card itself!)
Another mom explained to me that she’d rather just donate to The Family Place directly and not buy a Partners Card and spend the extra money shopping, which is a viewpoint I can certainly appreciate.
That being said, I enjoy getting a Partners Card and participating most years. I like supporting The Family Place, and Partners Card is a good incentive for me to get started on my Christmas shopping early. I prefer to avoid the holiday rush when I can, and even though stores can be a bit crowded during Partners Card time, it’s not as bad as waiting until December!
I should mention that the Partners Card participating retailers include some restaurants and service providers that also offer discounts. Also, if you’re planning to make a particular purchase with your Partners Card, please check the details about the participating retailer in the Partners Card directory, since some exclusions do apply.
You can purchase a Partners Card online here, or starting October 18 you can buy one at a Tom Thumb store or at many of the Partners Card participating retailers.
If you’re interested in supporting The Family Place in another way, you can visit its website to find out about volunteering, giving money, or donating to its Resale Shop.
