21 Jan A New Year’s Resolution
A New Year’s Resolution
Each January, we make resolutions for the New Year, with every intention of keeping them. For most of us, those resolutions fade away to memory before the daffodils poke their heads out of the ground. This year, I would like to challenge you to make a commitment to an important resolution for the entire year – one that will not only help you enjoy the community around you more, but will also help your community thrive: buy local.Buying local obviously supports the storeowners who live in your neighborhood, and maybe even across the street. But your purchases also allow them to hire employees and work with other local vendors, creating a strong and vibrant community. In contrast, large national chains rarely make community-level choices if those decisions don’t benefit them financially. So it really comes down this: Wouldn’t you rather support your neighbor’s business instead of a disinterested Fortune 50 company located far away from your community?
If you answered yes to this question, then the next question is – how should you get started? The easiest way is to buy groceries from local grocery stores and fresh produce and meats from food co-ops. You can even have the food delivered to you, taking away the argument that it takes too much time to go to different stores to buy different items. Moreover, your purchases support your community as well as the environment because local goods don’t require additional fuel and energy costs to get to you.
Need a gift? Try looking in one of the numerous and unique stores that line the streets of our towns. You’ll support the storeowner and the recipient of your gift will appreciate a unique gift that can’t be found in a box store. Everyone likes to feel special, and a unique local gift is a great way to let someone know how much you care. If you remodel or renovate your home this year, consider using locally sourced materials instead of materials shipped half way around the world. Be kind to the environment, too, and have
reusable and environmentally friendly plastic boxes delivered to you instead of using cardboard to store your stuff during the remodel. The convenience of having them picked up after you finish your remodel is an added bonus!
Do you have some clothing or furniture to donate? Any food items to share? Instead of sending them to the national charities, consider some of the small local charities, which can immediately use donations to help people in our community.
There are so many ways we can help make our community better. Let’s start off 2014 the right way for our local businesses!
ABOUT US
Janice Gambaccini and Stephanie Zimmermann are sisters and co-owners of a local business called Lend A Box®, LLC, which delivers environmentally friendly moving boxes to customers before they move and picks them up after the move is complete. Janice and Stephanie have lots of great ideas for local places to shop and eat – just ask them!