How to get free food at Clovis restaurants this winter. Hint: Save your receipts

The chilly winter months after the holidays are typically one of the slowest times for restaurants.

So a group of business organizations decided to do something about it.

A program that runs until Feb. 13 will reward people who dine out in Clovis with gift cards and “Old Town Bucks” that can be used at local restaurants.

Here’s how it works.

Free food

Save your itemized receipts every time you eat or drink at a restaurant, bar, or coffee shop within the City of Clovis, between Monday, Jan. 16 and Feb. 13.

When you’ve saved up $100 worth of receipts, bring them to the front counter at the City of Clovis Administration Building at 1033 Fifth St. You can then select a $25 gift card or “Old Town Bucks” to use at certain local restaurants.

There are gift cards from all sorts of restaurants. Availability will vary as people snap them up.

Restaurants offering the Old Town Bucks include Trelio Restaurant, 559 Beer, Cork & Knife, House of JuJu, Old Town Saloon, DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant and many more.

You can collect up to three gift cards total.

The program ends Feb. 13 — or until the funds run out, whichever comes first.

The gifts cards are purchased using money from the city’s general fund earmarked for economic development.

The program is an effort to help support local businesses during one of their toughest times of the year.

“We love our Clovis restaurant operators,” said Greg Newman, CEO of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, in a news release. “Local restaurants are more than just a place to eat. They provide thousands of full and part-time jobs, they provide a space where we can meet and socialize, and in many ways are the fabric of this community.”