Chamber Caps Successful Boards In The Stores Campaign

ORLEANS – More than $20,000 was raised this summer for the Orleans Chamber of Commerce and local artists as part of the chamber’s annual Boards in the Stores campaign.

Now in its fourth year, the event invites local artists to design custom surfboards for local businesses that are kept on display at the community center at 44 Main St. The boards are then put up for auction online, with proceeds going to support both the chamber and the participating artists.

This year’s auction, which closed Aug. 19, raised $22,272, surpassing last year’s total of $18,376. A total of 47 businesses participated in this year’s auction.

The Nauset Lantern Shop’s board, designed by Dakota Costa of Eastham and Ethan Craven of Wellfleet, earned the highest bid with $1,552. Other top-earning boards included Garrett “G. Love” Dutton’s board for Hog Island Beer Co. ($1,060), Lucy Fernandes’ board for Friends’ Marketplace ($1,000) and Sunshine Singleton’s board for Baskins ACE Hardware ($1,000).

Chronicle Advertising Manager Justin Alex, a former chamber member who started the event four years ago, said he’s happy to see how Boards in the Stores has grown since its inception.

“It’s amazing to see the support for both the chamber and our local artists that continues to exist in our community,” he said.