Next Thursday, Dec. 1, provides a great opportunity for Elmira residents to support our local merchants.
That’s when Moonlight Madness is slated to take place — an evening filled with fun activities, as well as a chance to shop.
The evening is a chance for all of us to get excited about the Christmas season, and see what is best about our community.
Moonlight Madness not only brings together local merchants and shoppers, but also has the support of community groups such as the Elmira Lions and their counterparts, the Woolwich Community Lions, as well as the Elmira firefighters, who provide fire barrels to provide additional warmth to the late-night shopping experience.
It is a fun-filled evening, filled with events such as the official tree-lighting in the downtown core, carol singing and glimpses of Santa. It is also a time when our local retailers go out of their way to provide consumers with a great bargain, just in time for Christmas.
As local residents, however, we should be compelled to support Moonlight Madness — and downtown Elmira merchants — regardless of the types of bargains we are expecting.
That is because without our local businesses, so much good that goes on in this community would not happen.
Whether our small town businesses employ local residents, or sponsor minor hockey (and, of course, ringette) teams, they all do a great deal to make Elmira a great community in which to live.
When we think of the variety of charitable projects that take place every year in this community, we know that none of them could take place without the support of Elmira’s businesses.
This past weekend, Woolwich Township residents supported a township-wide food drive that will benefit those less fortunate, those who are unable to provide the Christmas feast that we all come to expect as our annual right.
Many of the supporters of that food drive — along with the Christmas Goodwill program — include our Elmira merchants, who have made donations to the effort, as well as helping to promote it ahead of time.
Local business owners also support the community by purchasing from other businesses, making for a healthier local economy.
And, as if we needed further support of our argument, shopping close to home is not only beneficial to the local economy, but also aids the environment.
That’s because shopping in Elmira means less time on the road, spending less money on gas — and spewing fewer toxic fumes into the air we breathe.
And, with the time you’ll be saving, you’ll also make this year’s holiday craziness that much easier to bear.
So, this year, when you are tempted to head out of town to the mall or big box stores to finish your shopping, consider shopping in town, instead.
Elmira will thank you for it.