Fair-Trade Gifts Make Unique Presents and Help Others

Got holiday shopping on your mind? Well we’ve got tips for where to go, how to entertain the kids, stay active, and help others ALL at the same time! Layer up, hydrate, and approach it like a work out.

First, “shop small” is every towns chance to have you stay close to home and in our case, that means stroll around Decatur. Walking keeps you warm and offers good fresh air in between shops. Bring your own bag on wheels to tote your purchases, pop in for a eggnog latte to recharge, and let the kids play with babysitters at DHS while you shop! Yes, it’s true, German students offer babysitting while you shop on Dec 7 to finance a trip to Bavaria. Your kids will learn german songs, games and enjoy german christmas traditions while you bummel around town. 50 spots available, sign up soon.

Next, think global and shop local is the trend at the Jingle Bell Jubilee to be held at the Solarium on Dec 8. Bike over to Oakhurst, using the route College, Avery, Green, Oakview Streets and enjoy free refreshments as you shop for fair-trade gifts from Tara Project, House of Hope, Latin Runway, and more offering gifts from Haiti, Kenya, Colombia, that are crafted by locals there and support poverty reduction, empowering youth, schools for girls and more. Samples in the photo at right.

To kick off all the December shopping, make sure you see the grand menorah lighting and celebrations on the square Dec 2. And if you are a weekday shopper, definitely put Terrific Thursdays on your list, walk over to the square or park the car once at One West (for 2 hours free shopping), walk around all the local businesses and score a gift card to boot if you spend more than $200 on Thursdays!

And last but not least, here are tips from Decatur’s finest to keep you safe while shopping and yes, bicycle police patrols will be out and about.

So,