For the Santa Rosa Press Gazette, I was assigned to partake in the ‘Shop Local Challenge.’ While fellow reporter Aaron Little visited Milton area businesses, I visited locally owned and operated businesses in Pace. We are both tasked to spend no more than $20 in buying holiday gift items for a family of three.
Also within these parameters, we could only purchase a gift for each individual at one individual business each.
My first stop was the Helping Hand Mission Thrift Store, located along U.S. Hwy 90 in Pace. Amongst the racks of clothing, furniture, books and home furnishings, I found three porcelain birds.
My mother already has small porcelain bird collection at her home. These birds would add a few more to her collection. Two of the birds cost $1.95, the other only $2.95. The total from spent at the thrift store was $7.30.
From there, I traveled to Alyssa’s Antique Depot on Chumuckla Highway in hopes to find some gifts for either my father or brother. Out of huge selection of inventory, I found a Green Bay Packers key chain for $3.95, my father is a huge Packers football fan. I also purchased a small canister of chocolate peanut brittle from Pennsylvania Dutch Candies for $3.95. The total spent at Alyssa’s was $7.91.
Thus far in my shopping challenge, I have spent $15.21 and only have $4.79 left to spend on my brother.
Fortunately, I found B & C Nursery located near Alyssa’s on Chumuckla Highway. With only $4.79 left to spend, I purchased three small potted plants. My brother is known as having a ‘green thumb’ in our family.
The total amount actually came out to $4.79, thus using every cent of my $20.
In conclusion, I pleasantly surprised to find the Pace community offers several locally-owned businesses which offer an array of different holiday gift items.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Reporters square off in shopping challenge