YOUR LOCAL

Chamber Gift Ideas for Shopping Local This Holiday Season

By Stina D’Uva

As Chamber President for 21 years, I have seen the generosity of our local business community, large and small, to our residents, of all ages. As a former business owner too, I also know the number of requests made monthly to businesses by our schools and charities for donations to support local fundraising efforts. Businesses are always called upon to help and they do help!

That is one of the reasons for the Chamber’s existence. We are here to help businesses grow and thrive because when they do, they support the community. The support can be for auction items for a major event, cash donations to school clubs or banners at a ball field to support high school teams. It can be for volunteers to provide labor to healthcare clinics, clean up roads and lakes. The ways our businesses support our community are wide ranging in scope and type.

The way to support these generous businesses and ensure their support will continue is to give them your business. Holiday time is the perfect time to do it. The types of gifts you can buy from local businesses are practically endless. From big business to small business, they have the gifts you need.

The Chamber has all the major theme parks ready and able to help with gifts of park passes, hotel stays, and shops for that special gift. Gift shops, salons and restaurants in Winter Garden, Dr. Phillips, Gotha, Horizon West, MetroWest, Oakland, Pine Hills and Ocoee are open and ready to provide gift certificates and products. For a less than traditional gift, you may want to gift house cleaning, or window washing. We have car dealers ready to welcome you into their lots to help you pick out a car. Or, what about tickets to see our hometown teams; the Orlando Magic, Orlando Solar Bears, Orlando Pride or Orlando City Lions. Buy traditional golf or indoor golf rounds, or other attractions on I-Drive where you can race a car or see Orlando from up high. There is so much to do and give to those you love.

Think Chamber businesses as you put that Christmas gift list together. If you can think of it, we have a chamber member that can do it! Visit wochamber.com

Happy holidays!