Shop Ponca first and enter for a chance to win $5,000

Community-wide Holiday Giveaway has been underway for more than a month.

I caught up with Rich Cantillion, Chamber of Commerce president who said everything is going flawless.

You may have learned they have changed up a few things this year.

They started doing the Santa Buck Surprise, which is where they go to participating merchants and randomly select a shopper to give $50 worth of Santa Bucks.

“Well, sometimes they think we are stalking them, because it can’t be anyone we know," Cantillion said."So we look at someone and then we kind of follow them around, and then we tap them on the shoulder and say ‘hey can we talk to you a minute.’ So at first they are kind of leary and then when we get into what we are doing they get really excited.”

They also created a system where the stores no longer has to keep half of the ticket.

Cantillion said stores are liking this change.

On the Dec. 19 the winners will be announced on team radio.

Cantillion tells us there are some specific rules you will want to take note of.

“ If you have the number that is announced on the radio station you have up to five minutes to actually call in and say I got the number, and then depending on where you live we will give you a certain time allotment to get in and present it, and pick up your winnings,” Cantillion said.

If you don’t call to report you have the winning ticket and just show up at the Chamber officer you will not win.

If winners don’t call within the five minute grace period a new ticket will be drawn.

Last year they had to redraw three times among the one $5,000 winner, two $1,000 winners and four $500 winners.

Cantillion also said they collected more than a million tickets last year, so make sure to ask participating retailers for your tickets.