Don’t worry. There is still time.
It is a busy time of year and many of us have been finishing up year-end projects, socializing and counting down until Christmas – just three days to go – and the big deadline for showing up with some special gifts.
To ease the sense of expectation around the holidays, we thought to help out last-minute shoppers by providing some ideas to not only hit the mark with the people on your list, but to benefit our local community and economy.
Small towns like ours can be limited in their offerings and it is understandable people look online for price and variety and some things local stores just don’t carry.
In the Herald’s Dec. 2 reader poll, to which just over 1,000 folks responded, 66 percent indicated they will be doing the majority of their holiday shopping online – not far off the approximate 60 percent of Americans who say they are doing so.
That does not bode well for sales-tax-dependent municipalities like Durango and the friends, family members and co-workers employed here.
So now is the perfect time to hit the pavement, or your computer (see below) and invest in our community.
Here are several low-cost, high-value ways to do so:
New and used books; language, art, music, dance, sports and recreation and other passes, classes, performances, supplies and equipment; recipes, food and drink from far-away places. The sky is the limit.
Numerous nonprofit organizations will establish a memberships or accept donations in the gift recipient’s name.
What issues does he or she care about and would mean a lot?
The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado and United Way of Southwest Colorado grant funds to a variety of community-based not-for-profit organizations in our region.
Also, see the 2017 Nonprofit & Volunteer Resource Guide at http://bit.ly/2BOHByH and guidestar.org for ideas.
Print and frame a photo; paint, draw, photograph, knit or cook for someone.
To babysit, wash a car, shovel snow, rake leaves next fall, cook dinner, fill in the blank.
Food, drink, gas, entertainment, health and beauty – numerous local gift cards are available.
Area thrift stores, gently used clothing boutiques and Facebook online garage sales have some of the greatest finds of clothing, furniture, jewelry, shoes, books and more.
Our list wouldn’t be complete without mention of an annual membership or gift subscription to a magazine, local broadcast or print media organization that you depend upon daily for community news, information and entertainment that could include KSUT, KDUR and The Durango Herald.
Thank you for shopping locally and supporting our community. Happy holidays!
