CHAMBER News:

There’s a Small Business Saturday tradition in Los Alamos and White Rock that has always set Los Alamos County apart from other communities that observe the shopping local celebration. Many participating businesses donate a portion of their Small Business Saturday proceeds to a nonprofit of their choice.

The businesses each select what percentage or flat dollar amount they want to donate to a local, statewide, national or international charity.

Following are some of the local businesses participating in the tradition this year:

• Pet Pangaea will donate 3 percent of gross sales on Small Business Saturday to the Los Alamos Friends of the Shelter and Companion Animals.
• Los Alamos Lock & Key donates to Hockey Fights Cancer.
• Boomerang Consignment / Gaia Gifts will donate 10 percent to New Mexico Dog on Small Business Saturday.
• Flowers by Gillian will donate a portion of their earnings on Saturday to Habitat for Humanity of Espanola and Los Alamos.
• Village Arts will donate to Pajarito Environmental Education Center.
• Metzger’s will donate 5 perent of Small Business Saturday sales to the United Way of Northern New Mexico.

New this year, residents can also donate to the Los Alamos Community Foundation as a part of their Los Alamos Gives event. This community-wide event, focused on Giving Tuesday (Nov. 28) encourages Los Alamos and surrounding communities to contribute to local nonprofit organizations through a single online giving platform – losalamosgives.org. Though focused on Giving Tuesday and Thanksgiving weekend, the site is open to receive donations from through Dec. 31.

By shopping with these local businesses, and donating locally, you can make a difference! Thank you to those businesses and residents that choose to give back!