Kinney Drugs, a leading community-based drug store chain in New York and Vermont, is putting a little “warm and fuzzy” back into the holiday season for its customers. All retail locations will host a six-week series of exclusive in-store giveaways and events to celebrate “Warmand Fuzzy Fridays.” Kinney Drugs will also offer special product discounts to help customers save daily throughout the entire season.

Friday, Nov. 25, kicks off with the first 50 shoppers at each location receiving a free “Black Friday Survival Kit,” which includes a liter bottle of water, a pain reliever, snacks and candy, and an assortment of beauty and health and wellness samples from its vendor partners.

That day, shoppers can sample “Holiday Hot Cocoa” flavored chocolate pizza “slices” handcrafted in Marcellus by The Chocolate Pizza Co. Stocking stuffer gift boxes of the pizza will be exclusively available for purchase at Kinney Drugs.

Kinney has also published a special Holiday Gift Book filled with coupons on toys, candy, baking items, snacks and beverages, beauty gift sets, ornaments, and even pet items for shoppers’ fuzzy friends.

“As an employee-owned company, Kinney Drugs is extremely family-focused,” said Judy Cowden, senior director of marketing and advertising. “Some of our employees were talking about how the holidays can be such a stressful time for our customers and their families. Often, it seems that the shopping ‘marathon’ comes at the expense of those ‘warm and fuzzy’ times spent together – playing games, watching holiday movies, baking, or just having a cocoa. So, we decided to put the ‘warm and fuzzy’ back in customers’ hometown holidays by making shopping super convenient, offering a great assortment of everything people need for the holidays at affordable prices, and hosting some fun in-store events and giveaways. We hope people will enjoy a little time back in their days to spend with friends and family.”

All Kinney Drugs locations across New York and Vermont will host six “Warm and Fuzzy Fridays” featuring in-store events and giveaways:

• Nov. 25 – The first 50 shoppers at each location will receive a free “Black Friday Survival Kit” including water, a pain reliever, snacks and candy, and samples of some of Kinney Drugs’ best-selling beauty, health and wellness products. Customers can taste-test slices of The Chocolate Pizza Co.’s “Holiday Hot Cocoa” flavored chocolate pizza and purchase their own. It is exclusively available at Kinney Drugs locations.
• Dec. 2 – Receive $5 off on a toy purchase of $25 or more to save big on name-brand toys.
• Dec. 9 – Celebrate “Helping Elves Day” at Kinney Drugs where employees will help you build the perfect gift for anyone on your shopping list.
• Dec. 16 – Donate $10 or more to a designated local pet shelter in store and receive a collectible, hand-painted keepsake ornament. Kinney Drugs has partnered with more than 20 pet shelters throughout its footprint to ensure local pets have a “Warm and Fuzzy Holiday” too.
• Dec. 23 – Customers can complete their holiday shopping at Kinney Drugs last-minute gift-buying headquarters, where helpful staff is standing by to assist.
• Dec. 30 – Ladies can find their best New Year’s Eve look and the latest beauty trends during Kinney Drugs’ “Glam Beauty Day.”

Throughout the entire “Warm and Fuzzy Holiday Season,” Kinney Drugs will give customers the opportunity to enter the company’s biggest giveaway ever for the chance to win six big prizes, including a television, pizza grill, mini fridge, wake board, mountain bike, and an electronics gift basket. Customers can enter to win a gift basket filled with holiday best-sellers by sharing an ugly sweater selfie on the company’s Facebook page or their own Instagram with #KinneyUglyHolidaySweaters. In addition, throughout the holidays, customers who wear an ugly sweater while shopping at Kinney Drugs will receive a special prize at checkout.

To learn more visit kinneydrugs.com/warmandfuzzy. For a list of store locations, visit kinneydrugs.com/locations.