To pay it forward this festive season, the Chester merchants group is planning a Holiday Round-Up from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

All participating restaurants, galleries and shops will give customers and patrons an opportunity to “round-up.” For example, if a receipt reads $23.40, it would be rounded up to $24, and 60 cents will be donated to charity.

The merchant’s group is hoping to have 100% participation from Chester businesses, and have selected four organizations to receive donations from the initiative: Bikes For Kids, a non-profit organization that provides refurbished bicycles and new helmets to children; The Shoreline Soup Kitchen & Pantries, delivering food and fellowship to those in need and educating the community on hunger and poverty; Homeward Bound CT, finding homes for rescue dogs in Connecticut; and Simply Sharing, lending a hand in ending homelessness in Connecticut.

Retailers are also welcome to select their own charity to be funded.

Suzie Woodward of Lark, 4 Water Street, is facilitating the fundraising event for the merchant’s group, which regularly organizes special events to give back to the community. These include the Young Entrepreneurs group, which sponsors students to create their own products to sell at the Chester Farmer’s Market, and the Christmas ornaments at Lark with proceeds going to East Africa for “Project Have Hope.”