Gift giving is its own reward and this is the time of year when we get to show the people who are close to us how much we appreciate them all year long. The reward is even greater when we do it in the shops, restaurants and galleries that are close to us, too, because in local shops, we can find a gift that says “I know you.”

The affection Maynard residents feel for our community is all encompassing. We see it in the friendly greetings of passersby and shopkeepers, the “village” of parents who always have a watchful eye on everybody’s kids, the cordiality of our own police force and firefighters and the collective joy we all experience at festivals and public events that bring us together. Shopping locally reinforces the strength of our community economically and in our personal lives. Here’s why:

Local businesses keep money circulating in the local economy, create jobs for local residents and, through taxes, contribute to public services. In fact, up to 90% of new jobs in the U.S. are created by locally owned businesses. Local businesses also support community efforts by sponsoring sporting events and cultural celebrations at a rate that is 250% higher than national chains.  

Small boutiques, gift shops and galleries carry unique items for our homes or for gift giving, sometimes lovingly made by hand and offering things we can’t find in big box stores like Walmart or online at Amazon. Owners of small stores know where their products come from and how they work. They purchase products from local artists, craftspeople and other local suppliers. They get to know us and our families and can often even suggest just the right gift for someone we know.

Maynard is a walking town, so shopping locally lets us stroll through the pretty downtown and avoid driving to crowded malls on crowded highways: good for our health and for the environment! Local businesses are more likely to operate with sustainable practices, too, another way we can take care of the good earth and the community we live in.

Local restaurants have menu offerings unique to their establishments, giving us more interesting and healthier cuisine with fresh, local products. In Maynard, we have myriad international offerings. And, we see each other regularly in our local places – pretty soon, everybody knows our name and that feels good.

The bottom line:  For every $100 spent locally, $50 remains in the local economy as opposed to only $15 that comes back when we shop at national chains.

So this season, shop local. You’ll be rewarding our community, yourself and the people you love. Happy Holidays!

Further Reading at sustainableconnections.org.