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The Christmas shopping season in Cherokee County kicked off Saturday with Christmas on Main in downtown Andrews, the unofficial start to the holidays. It was a great day for the popular annual event, with lots of folks on hand to jingle bells, light the town’s Christmas tree and visit with Santa Claus – or at least a few elves working for him.
These type of events are only possible because of local merchants and nonprofits like the Andrews Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of Christmas on Main. That’s one reason why it’s so important to support them in return.
“Shop local” is more than just a slogan; it should be a way of life for residents of Cherokee and surrounding counties. Everything dollar spent in our community multiples by about seven times as it makes its way through the economy, according to business experts with advanced degrees containing lots of acronyms, giving our family, friends and neighbors a way to make a living – while also giving back to others.
Besides events that draw visitors to town, local businesses are the backbone of many nonprofits. Groups like Reach of Cherokee & Graham Counties would not be able to provide the services they do without having generous business owners they can call on quickly during times of need. Bless them all.
The best way to support local businesses is to simply shop with them. Some things might seem a little more expensive, but not so much when you subtract the mailing hassles and postage costs. Plus, you get the reward of knowing your dollars are being spent in Cherokee County to benefit Cherokee County, which should be a top priority.
In November and December last year, American shoppers spent nearly $1 trillion. That has particularly helped behemoths like Amazon, which accounts of close to one-quarter of online purchases in the weeks leading up to Christmas, thereby helping founder Jeff Bezos become the third-wealthiest person in the world even after he gave up nearly half of his fortune in a divorce.
Even though Amazon is building a plant in neighboring Hayesville and seemingly has money falling out of digital trees, chances are pretty slim that the global company will be sponsoring your child’s youth league team. Thankfully, a locally owned business likely will – but only as long as they’re here.
Brian Kaylor of Word & Way, a Christian media company, shared in a Nov. 17 report that the Center on Faith & Justice at Georgetown University has launched a new campaign encouraging people to pledge not to shop on Amazon during this Advent season. The “No Amazon for Advent” effort is backed by many other groups, including Faithful America, Red Letter Christians and state councils of churches in California, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
“Instead of enriching the world’s wealthiest, we choose to strengthen the places and people that make our communities whole. We choose local businesses struggling to survive, nonprofits caring for the vulnerable and neighbors in need of compassion,” the No Amazon for Advent site explains.
“We choose to pass down memories to our new generations through the gifting of heirlooms and other items that hold special importance to us and our families. We practice being intentional by spending less on things and more on purpose.”
Grounding the appeal in the long U.S. tradition of boycotts, the No Amazon for Advent initiative emphasizes that such moves “allow ordinary people to challenge unjust systems by redirecting their economic power toward justice and community. Even if this boycott doesn’t affect Amazon’s profits, it still matters.”
Jim Wallis, director of the Center on Faith & Justice, said the goal is working “to strengthen our communities.”
“It is easier to stay comfortable. Amazon has made it simple to live without leaving our homes, without conversation, without connection. But that comfort has come at the cost of community. Let us make Advent not about what we buy, but about what we build together.”
David Brown is publisher of the Cherokee Scout. Call him with comments and questions at 828-837-5122 or email dbrown@cherokeescout.com.