Chamber encourages shopping local for Mom

With Mother’s Day just days away and the COVID-19 pandemic still altering plans, the Putnam County Chamber is encouraging residents to think local when they think about mom.

“Mother’s day is a time when we usually take mom out to eat or go see a movie,” Chamber Executive Director Brian Cox said. “We go shopping for flowers or other items that show we care. We buy spa day gift cards to show her that we appreciate how hard she works.

“Sometimes we even wait till the last minute to go shopping not because we don’t care but because we are not very good at planning.”

With the topic again on everyone’s mind, the Chamber wants you to show mom you care while shopping local.

“You can get take out at almost any restaurant in the county,” Cox said. “You can shop online or stop in locally to a shop while social distancing to give her the perfect gift. You can get a gift card for her favorite local hair salon. Maybe you should pick up the new lawn mower she has always wanted from a local vendor.”

Perhaps it’s even the year to think big while staying at home.

“It may be a good year to not just say thank you to mom with lunch or dinner why not make the whole day special,” Cox said. “Maybe a takeout breakfast or donut followed up by a great curbside lunch pick up from her favorite local restaurant. You can then let mom take a nap or just sit quietly for a couple hours while you wrap that perfect gift that you or the kids bought from a local retailer. Finish up the day with a great dessert that you picked up from a local restaurant professional.

Yes, COVID-19 has turned things upside down, but caring for our moms hasn’t changed and neither has caring for our local small businesses.

“Let’s show them both that we care by shopping local and spending time together,” Cox concluded.