Shopping Spree Winner Gloria Smith with Try Local First's Bess Willis

Gloria Smith noticed the brightly green wrapped boxes in local stores last Christmas (2008) and she filled out a form and entered to win the local $1,000 Shopping Spree.

Then later on in the year she entered to win a Discover East County Package and when she heard the winners announced at the 4th of July Blue Lake Park Fireworks Event she did not hear her name but was impressed to see that yes someone did win and these Try Local First promotions were for real. So when she received the e-mail announcing the 2009 Shopping Spree Event she took the time to enter once again.

Life gets busy and Gloria was over halfway across the United States caring for a sister that was having eye surgery when she visited a local library to check her e-mail – yes, Gloria, there is a Santa Claus as what to her wondering eyes did appear an e-mail from Try Local First stating that she was the winner of the 2009 $1,000 Shopping Spree. Persistence does pay and a little good karma doesn’t hurt either.

Speaking of good karma and paying it forward, when asked what she intended to do with her Holiday Spree the first words out of her mouth were that she was going to her local Church and get some Angels off the tree – you see each Angel has a child’s name who needs a little something this Christmas and Gloria was happy to spend a portion of her $1,000 helping other less fortunate have a little brighter Christmas.

And, of course she intends to spend the entire $1,000 locally because she understands that will enable someone else to spend local and the circle of local economic health stays well and those locally in need are given assistance. Try Local First is truly a happy ending story that had no ending if we all make that extra effort to spend our resources in East County!

We feel the positive energy of people shopping local and taking care of those less fortunate in our community. The Try Local First slogan You Have the Power is truer now than ever.

During this holiday season consider the power you have to make a difference in our community. Local business are far more likely to help our schools, our sports teams, our soup kitchens, our homeless shelters than a business located online or out of state.

If local businesses are successful, a portion of their tax dollars come directly back to our community. So embrace your power and make this shopping season one of blessings for all in in our community.