Holiday shopping is underway, and Kalona Chamber of Commerce Director Tonia Poole is encouraging people to shop locally. Poole shares why it is important to make purchases nearby, “Our community takes care of each other. When we shop local we keep those businesses going, that keeps jobs nearby, that keeps taxes nearby. It’s a cycle that feeds itself. And you’re supporting our local volunteers like our first responders, our volunteer fire departments, we have so many people. And those are our business owners, those are the people that you’re supporting when you go into the hardware store, the retail store, just any of it.”

Poole adds that if you have family coming into the area to visit, encourage them to stay at a hotel, lodge, or AirBNB close by too.

Shoppers will have a chance to get in the holiday spirit on December 7th with the annual Christmas in Kalona celebration