By Chris Kovatch

I walked outside this morning and didn’t know what to do. It felt….nice. Greatly reduced humidity, a nice breeze, and a temperature closer to what you would expect in mid October. This is the time of year that I enjoy being outside. Yardwork is a pleasure and not a punishment where I lose 10 pounds by sweating. It is a nice time to sit in the driveway while the kids ride their bikes or play soccer in the yard or hang out in the back yard on the patio and let the kids play on the big swing that hangs from the oak tree.

I always associate fall weather with thoughts of family, time together, celebrations; you know the picture perfect Hallmark card feel. I am blessed to have been able to experience this year after year growing up. Never once did I ever feel like I did without something that I needed. Things I wanted…yes I did without those and was quite vocal about how mistreated I was. I always had everything I needed and I realize now as an adult of how blessed I was.

As we enter the holiday season, there are many families that approach it with dread rather than excitement. This may be even more of a regular occurrence thanks to the damage that we recently suffered and the cost to rebuild.

I bring these thoughts to you this week because there is something we can all do to help out. As we continue to buy things to repair our homes and put our lives back together, if at all possible try to keep the business in Orange County. If you are in need of a replacement vehicle, please look here first. Being a part of two non-profit groups that support our community in a variety of ways, I know how much the support we get from our local business both in monetary donations and manpower mean to us. Their generosity helps children receive glasses, ramps to be built for those in wheelchairs, children to receive Christmas gifts, Christmas food baskets to be distributed, and many more worthwhile activities to be coordinated.

They are able to help out charities and non-profits because of the success their business has; so the greater amount of purchases we can keep in Orange County, the greater the impact they can have in supporting those in need in our community.

I know I like to buy stuff and the fact that by just shopping locally I can have a part in helping out those in need makes the purchases I am making so much more important.