As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026, many of us find ourselves reflecting on who we are as a community, where we came from, and what has sustained us for nearly two and a half centuries. One of the most enduring American traditions, long before online shopping took over, has been the simple act of supporting local craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and neighbors. And nowhere is that tradition felt more strongly than during the holiday season. Many of us remember the trips to the corner store for penny candy or stopping at the local dairy where milk came in glass bottles and, if we were lucky, Mom let us pick out a pack of Lance crackers from the jar on the counter.

When we shop local during the holidays, we participate in something far greater than a simple exchange of money for goods. It is, in many ways, a small but meaningful act of patriotism–a way to honor the values of self-reliance, community pride, and neighbor-to-neighbor support that helped build this country. That entrepreneurial spirit has been part of our Juniata River Valley from the very beginning. Our founding mother, Dorcas Buchanan, and her husband operated a trading post, an essential lifeline for early settlers. Its success often determined whether a community would thrive, providing tools, food, clothing, ammunition, and other necessities.

The trading post was also the heart of the community. It was where neighbors shared news, exchanged gossip, and learned what was happening in the outside world. As more people stopped in for supplies, other businesses sprang up around it, creating the same ripple effect we still see today: one business opens, and others follow, strengthening the community as a whole.

Mifflin and Juniata counties were built by generations of small business owners who took risks, worked with their hands, served their neighbors, and built the local economy from the ground up. Over the decades, the Juniata River Valley produced everything from buggies and bricks to baseball bats, blankets, crocks, furniture, agricultural goods, train wheels, and even a health tonic called Wisto. Yes, really. “Doc” Eby, who ran a drug store in Lewistown, created a “miracle” elixir said to have remarkable health benefits. People traveled from as far away as Hollywood to buy it. The name Wisto, for those who haven’t noticed, came from the middle of the word Lewistown.

That spirit is still alive today. You see it every time a family opens the doors to a local bookstore, coffee shop, pottery studio, hardware store, boutique, or restaurant. These artisans and tradespeople form the backbone of our community, carrying forward the tradition of hard work, creativity, and neighbor-to-neighbor support that has kept the Juniata River Valley thriving for centuries.

Shopping local today is also a powerful way to connect across generations. When we step into a family-run business, we aren’t just buying a gift; we’re supporting stories, traditions, and legacies woven into our community over decades. Each purchase helps sustain jobs, preserve the unique character of our towns, and encourages the next generation to dream, create, and give back. It’s a tangible way to honor the ingenuity of those who came before us while ensuring that our children grow up seeing the value of investing in their hometown.

As the United States approaches this historic milestone, choosing to shop local is a meaningful way to honor our heritage. It keeps our dollars where they matter most, protects the identity of our towns, and strengthens the same entrepreneurial spirit that helped shape our nation and our own Juniata River Valley. Most importantly, it ensures that the next generation inherits a community where neighbors care for one another.

So, as you prepare for the holidays, consider making your gift-giving an act of both joy and patriotism. Choose to support your neighbors. Choose to celebrate the ingenuity and resilience that built America. Choose to shop small, shop local, and invest in the community we all call home.

Coretta Scott King said it best: “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

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Rhonda S. Kelley is the executive director of the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce.