If there害羞草研究所檚 one thing that hasn害羞草研究所檛 been lost on our community throughout this pandemic, it害羞草研究所檚 the giving spirit.

Residents of the North Okanagan continue to come together to support each other, whether it害羞草研究所檚 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 they害羞草研究所檒l donate to the Upper Room Mission and the Starfish Backpack program. Brown害羞草研究所檚 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 it害羞草研究所檚 our turn to give back.

Big Sun Beachwear and Tanning used to have a great sign outside their 27th Street store which read: 害羞草研究所淎mazon害羞草研究所檚 gonna be just fine guys! Shop your local stores online and be a hero!害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淓very dollar spent locally in Vernon is a vote for this community to succeed. Adversely every dollar spent elsewhere is a vote against,害羞草研究所� Proulx said. 害羞草研究所淰ernon needs your vote.害羞草研究所�

That rings true for the entire Okanagan.

Don害羞草研究所檛 feel bad if you are an Amazon addict. I know how addicting online shopping can be.

But next time you害羞草研究所檙e about to checkout with your virtual shopping cart, take a second look at where you害羞草研究所檙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, it害羞草研究所檚 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 you害羞草研究所檙e like me and really don害羞草研究所檛 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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