With Christmas just days away, finding gifts for those unique individuals can be a challenge. But sometimes shopping locally can help ease those worries.

Greene County Chamber and Tourism Interim Director Michael Reese encourages everyone to shop locally for the holidays, because small businesses tend to have those surprises you weren’t expecting.

“The sheer amount of diversity in products that Greene County has, I don’t think you even need to go to Amazon, or I don’t even think you need to go to Ames or Des Moines. I think you can probably find all of your gifts right here in Greene County.”

Reese reminds everyone that when you shop locally, you help out the local economy and help small businesses thrive.