We are now in the season when people are in a position to invest in the community. We're not talking about volunteering at the local soup kitchen, although that's a good thing. We're talking about dollars and what makes good sense about where they go during the holidays — to local merchants.
For residents, it means patronizing locally owned and operated businesses. For the county, it means also investing in locally owned and operated businesses through promotions, incentives and more free parking days.
Local chambers of commerce and business partnerships — such as those behind the "Shop the Ville" campaign in Catonsville and Winterfest in Towson — bring the spotlight to downtown shops and restaurants.
Baltimore County government also has a role to play, especially with parking. The county operates 1,735 metered spaces around the county and made them free Nov. 27-30 and will again Dec. 20-25. We wonder if this one-size-fits-all approach is best. Maybe some retail districts, such as downtown Towson, where parking can be a daunting prospect, deserve some extra free parking days.
Meanwhile, while we are making that list and checking it twice, let's open up our gift-giving options. Might mom or dad enjoy a gift certificate to a local restaurant more than another pair of bedroom slippers?
For the local retailers part, they can also be good neighbors by hiring local youngsters and keeping sidewalks out front clean.
We are not saying you should never shop online or patronize the big malls — sometimes, those are sensible choices. Just be mindful of the local folks when you have a choice.
A healthy community requires a vibrant business sector. By helping your local retailers, you build a vibrant community. And that helps you, too.