If theresa国际传媒檚 one thing that hasnsa国际传媒檛 been lost on our community throughout this pandemic, itsa国际传媒檚 the giving spirit.

Residents of the North Okanagan continue to come together to support each other, whether itsa国际传媒檚 sending presents to lonely seniors or helping a family who lost their home in a fire.

And 2020 is no exception. With businesses struggling to keep their doors open, the community is stepping up to shop and eat local at every opportunity, while still making room to give to charities.

Many local businesses are making it easy to do both.

Like Rosters, for example, buy a gift card and theysa国际传媒檒l donate to the Upper Room Mission and the Starfish Backpack program. Brownsa国际传媒檚 Social House also did the same on Sunday, Dec. 6, where diners got a discount for bringing in a new toy. Trade a can of food for a free coffee at Bean to Cup. Or if you are struggling to stock your shelves this time of year, the Fig Bistro has a table of free food those in need and their pets.

These are just a few of the little additives businesses are sprinkling into the season of giving.

So itsa国际传媒檚 our turn to give back.

Big Sun Beachwear and Tanning used to have a great sign outside their 27th Street store which read: sa国际传媒淎mazonsa国际传媒檚 gonna be just fine guys! Shop your local stores online and be a hero!sa国际传媒�

Itsa国际传媒檚 a stark reminder that our spending habits can have a direct impact.

And when we spend local, we support local.

Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce GM Dan Proulx also recently made a plea to residents to vote Vernon with their dollars.

sa国际传媒淓very dollar spent locally in Vernon is a vote for this community to succeed. Adversely every dollar spent elsewhere is a vote against,sa国际传媒� Proulx said. sa国际传媒淰ernon needs your vote.sa国际传媒�

That rings true for the entire Okanagan.

Donsa国际传媒檛 feel bad if you are an Amazon addict. I know how addicting online shopping can be.

But next time yousa国际传媒檙e about to checkout with your virtual shopping cart, take a second look at where yousa国际传媒檙e spending your money.

Is it an item you could just as easily purchase from a local shop, especially now that most of them have moved to provide online shopping too?

For most of us, itsa国际传媒檚 just about changing our habits slightly and removing yourself from the comfort of the Amazon account and perhaps Googling what shops in downtown Vernon have online shopping.

Or if yousa国际传媒檙e like me and really donsa国际传媒檛 like to shop for anything online, there is still the option to visit these stores (and with new free pickup parking spots on 30th Avenue).

But that option might not be there tomorrow if we continue to pool our resources elsewhere today.

So now, more than ever before, it really is time for us to put our money where our mouth is and vote for our local businesses.

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jennifer@vernonmorningstar.com
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