Shopping locally = community support

The Director of the Kimball-Banner County Chamber, Jo Caskey, is concerned about the future of Kimball, if it’s residents don’t take the issue of shopping locally seriously.

“Shopping in Kimball, not only supports local businesses,” she explained, “it supports jobs for people who live here.”

Caskey understands that most of the nation’s economy has been affected by the drop in oil prices and higher unemployment rates but, states that we, as citizens in Kimball, can make a difference in our local economy.

“It is our local businesses that support organizations and events in our community,” touted Caskey. “Shopping out-of-town big box stores hurts the entire community, especially our youth.”

Caskey provided examples of Kimball’s local businesses supporting our youth through donations and involvement.

“Kimball State Bank and Insurance is a sponsor for the Kimball-Banner County Fair and Rodeo. That impacts every 4-H participant in two counties. (Kimball and Banner Counties),” she said. “Hometown Hardware and Hometown Floral & Gifts are Kimball Little League team sponsors, Kimball Public School supporters, and they donate to Farmer’s Day Prize Night, as well as the Kimball Area Foundation fundraiser.”

Long-time Kimball resident, Marilyn Patterson, who works for her son at Hometown Hardware added that when locals shop out of town, the money they spend will never return to our community, but the taxes that are paid on goods purchased locally will go to help pave streets and such.

“It’s called community-unity,” Patterson said. “If we don’t support our community, we will lose our community. I would like people in our community to at least try the businesses in town. Don’t just assume that if you go out of town to shop that it will be cheaper. We try to help people with their needs. It just makes sense to support the community in which you live.”

Caskey added that Larsen’s Jewelry Store is a major Kimball Public School supporter and they also donate to Farmer’s Day Prize Night. Larsen’s, owned and managed by lifetime resident Karen Robinson, also raises funds for the Kimball Area Foundation.

Another local business owner involved in helping our community is Dr. Adrian Fuss and his wife, Sarah, owners of Kimball Family Dentistry. KFD is a sponsor of the Community Concert Series, Kimball TeamMates, and also supports of the Friends of the Goodhand Theatre.

As a reminder, Caskey added that shopping at Main Street Market and saving your receipts can help our local schools, Friends of the Library, Keep Kimball Beautiful, Job’s Daughters, Plains Historical Society, as other non-profit organizations. This plan does not cost any money, just a simple gesture of saving receipts can add up.

Caskey would like to remind our community that without our support of each other that someday we may not have a community to support.

She believes that if consumers would actually stop and write down what they would spend by shopping out of town - that they may not actually be “saving” by doing so. She hopes that our community will look at the bigger picture in the future and choose to support the community in which we live.

“A stable and healthy community requires the commitment and support of everyone. Supporting local business keeps dollars circulating right here. It grows our sales tax base. It keeps the streets plowed in the winter and swept in the summer. It keeps programs available for our youth,” Caskey said. “It helps our community be a place where someone wants to raise their family or move a business.”

She added that the work local residents put into bringing the Goodhand Theatre back to a clean and usable facility demonstrates what can be accomplished.

“That would not have happened without the support of the community. Instead of focusing on what Kimball may not have, focus on what it does have. Then ask, ‘How can I contribute to making that better?’ The actions of one person can make a difference!” Caskey concluded.