Buying Local is More Than Purchasing Power

Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor, poster made for Giving Tuesday, Cafe Ollie's in Ypsilanti, Santa and 3-y-old Judah in Depot Town, Kolossos Printing  in Ann Arbor, and Bookbound of Ann Arbor.

In a conversation with the founder of DishFish, Joel Vergun, he said something that really stuck out to me as a community enthusiast. He likened the support of small businesses to a cause that you you would normally associate with a nonprofit. "We see helping small businesses in the community as a worthy cause," said Vergun.  

In the collage above, I captured a few locally owned and operated businesses and organizations that I patronized this year. In the top row from left to right: 

Mashup of an evening with poet Nikki Giovanni at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor,

a poster for my first year serving in the role of a social media ambassador for Giving Tuesday,

In the bottom row, from left to right: 

Danielle Teachout, co-owner at Cafe Ollie's in Ypsilanti, serving free cookies and hot cocoa, 

Santa and 3-year-old Judah, at a Christmas tree lighting hosted by the Merchants of Depot Town

Bradley Schwartz, of Kolossos Printing on Stadium in Ann Arbor, in design mode,

and Bookbound, the new independent community bookstore of Ann Arbor.

Buy Local week is coming to a close, but the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting members of your community with community dollars does not have to end anytime soon. And, as you can see from the smiles -- the power buying local provides is bigger than any dollar.