The holiday shopping season is upon us and despite the economic environment in our country, we are going to be spending money on Christmas gifts and groceries for our holiday goodies. We can either invest that money in our community or take it to other places, the choice is ours. I want to challenge each of you to stop before you run to Jackson or elsewhere shopping and ask yourself – Could I buy this in Sharkey County? If you can – do it!
By shopping at home, you keep your money in the community and you contribute to local services by keeping your sales tax money here as well. Money spent in the Rolling Fork area is reborn as a neighbor’s paycheck, as property taxes that support the public school system, as a gas purchase at a local station, as payment to a day-care provider, as a meal at a local restaurant or groceries at a local grocery store. Yes, by shopping locally we have the opportunity to contribute to the well being of our community and to the well being of our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers; people we see every day. Not only that, but you are investing in your hometown by sustaining local businesses and encouraging more to open. The more we can keep those dollars circulating, the better off we are as a community, but if you take those dollars out of town or shop on-line, they are gone for good.
We are blessed in Rolling Fork with some wonderful gift shops that carry a great variety of items in all price ranges. We have a few implement and parts stores with an assortment of toys for little farmers as well as some toys for the big farmers too. Hunting and fishing products as well as clothes and shoes are available in local shops. Most area restaurants sell gift certificates, and we have several local artists with goods that may be purchased for the art patrons on your list; the local library has several books for sale. If you are looking to buy big ticket items, we have a couple of furniture stores and places where all terrain vehicles may be purchased. So, as you make your Christmas list, think creatively, visit the local shops to see what they have; avoid the crowds, save gas and spend your money at home!
