Submitted by Sustainable Connections
With the holiday season here, Sustainable Connections’ begins their 12th annual holiday “buy local” campaign in Bellingham and Whatcom County, reminding shoppers to visit local and independently owned businesses for their holiday shopping.
“This is the time of year when most of us spend the bulk of our shopping budget, and it can make an immense difference for our community if the bulk of that spending is done with local, independently owned businesses,” Michelle Grandy, Think Local First program manager at Sustainable Connections says. “Keeping our money recirculating here equals jobs and diversity of choices. It also feels good to support our friends and neighbors.”
Sustainable Connections reports that for every $100 spent at a local business approximately $68 stays recirculating in our community supporting local jobs and reinvestment in our community. When $100 is spent with a non-local business, only approximately $43 stays here. They’ve compiled the following tools, materials and events to help make this holiday season a local one:
- Local Online Auction: The Bid Local First! online auction runs from November 21 – December 1. Goods and services from over 70 unique local businesses in Whatcom County are up for bid including a wine and cheese party from Masquerade Wine, a 12 week yoga session from Yoga Northwest, a photograph package from Phil Rose Photography and much more.
- Guide: A local guide and business directory will be available in the Bellingham Herald and Cascadia Weekly the first week of December. The guide details the benefits of buying local, gift giving ideas, a directory of local businesses, a wish list contest and energy saving tips for the holidays.
- Eat Local Pledge and Photo Contest: The Eat Local First pledge asks participants to add at least one local food item to their holiday celebrations with the satisfaction of knowing it benefits local farmer’s markets and the sustainable agriculture practiced by many local farmers. A gift card to the Community Food Co-op will be awarded to one lucky winner who takes the pledge. In addition, participants are encouraged to submit a photo of a homemade holiday dish made with local ingredients to the Eat Local First Facebook page for a chance to win Market Bucks to the Bellingham Farmers Market!
