The benefits of shopping local: Why supporting your community matters

Rural, agricultural communities are critically important to the world. They are not only the source of the world’s food supply, but also critical to environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, economic stability and social cohesion.

As we head into the holiday season, please support those who support your community. There are many reasons to shop in your local, rural communities.

Money spent at local businesses typically stays within the community. This has a multiplier effect, where local businesses spend money with local suppliers, which supports the local economy.

Rural communities often have products unique to the area that you will not find at a big-box store. The service is typically more personalized, and you do not have to wait in a self-checkout line.

Shopping locally can help reduce the environmental impact caused by transportation. Most locally purchased products do not need to be shipped hundreds — or thousands — of miles by land, air and sea.

Shopping locally affords you the pleasure of doing business with people you know. It helps build community connections.

Local businesses often sponsor or participate in fundraisers, community events and support charitable cause in your community. They not only donate dollars, but also products and services for the county fair, FFA chapters, 4-H clubs, high school band and choir, a wide variety of sports teams and so many others.

Shopping locally reduces homogenization. Rural areas often have independent, family-owned business that stand apart from national chains, helping to preserve the “personality” of a community.

Shopping locally helps create and maintain jobs within your rural community, which is especially important in areas with fewer job opportunities. These jobs are often more stable and invested in the long-term prosperity of your community.

Local businesses are closer to home. Local businesses are typically less crowded. The older I get, the less I like big crowds in big-box stores.

Studies show that a larger percentage of the money spent at local businesses stays local. By supporting local businesses, you contribute directly to the local economy. This helps with everything from education to infrastructure to public services.

The owner of a local radio station recently shared with me a story about a man in his community who managed a youth travel sports team.

This man, for years, asked for donations from the community to help pay for coaching, facilities, uniforms, transportation, hotel stays, meals, equipment, tournaments, leagues and more.

The local grocery store, appliance dealer and consumer electronics businesses were among the many local businesses who gave freely.

The man who took donations from the local businesses purchased the food and drink and much of the equipment for the traveling team from the only big-box store in town. The big-box store gave zero dollars to support the team or program.

The man who took so freely from local businesses built a new home on the outskirts of town. He hired a contractor from another county.

The construction crew came from another county. The well-digging, electricians, painters and plumbers — all from outside of the county.

The man drove a truck he had purchased from a dealership two counties away, pulling a rented trailer — you guessed it, out of town — to a big-box store in another county onto which he loaded a new stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and television sets.

Guess what? The next time the man knocked on doors or called local business owners asking for donations for the traveling sports team, they wrote the checks and donated the products and services.

I bet you thought this story ended differently. There are some danged good people in rural communities.