Buy Local, Give Local returns to Santa Monica Sept. 12 - 20 to maximize support for local charities.
Santa Monica's Buy Local program encourages residents to keep their purchases within the city and with locally focused merchants. The Buy Local, Give Local program takes the philosophy a step further by asking local merchants to help support a charity of their choice.
Along Ocean Park Boulevard, the merchants are backing the Westside Family Health Center. The organization, founded in 1974, is a non-profit community health center providing a wide range of low-cost health care services. WFHC serves close to 10,000 low-income and uninsured women, men and children, regardless of one's ability to pay.
Participating businesses said WFHC was a deserving choice.
"It's important the WFHC be recognized for all they do to keep our community healthy and united. That's what makes Santa Monica special; and Kimba is very Santa Monica," said former world figure skater & current managing director of rumba/kimba hills design, Adam E. Schmidt.
LaFayette James, the store supervisor of Bob's Market, said the store supports numerous, local non-profits through donations, food and scripps, including Westside Family Health Center, Samohi, the Church of Ocean Park, John Adams Middle School, Santa Monica Little League, Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool, the Santa Monica Synagogue, Circle of Friends, the YWCA of Santa Monica and Grant Elementary School.
"We like to support the community, because they support us," James said. "We are an anchor for the community in Ocean Park and the owner of Bob's Market has always believed in giving back. We are community-based and there is growth in supporting local."
Maire Byrne owner of Thyme Café and Market kicked off fundraising with fundraiser night for Westside Family Health Center last week.
"When I came and toured the clinic, I was blown away. People filled the waiting room and their doctors really do so much there," she said.
"Giving back to the community, creates a community," Byrne said. "I feel lucky to be in business in Santa Monica and I want to pay it forward."
Bruce Bair from Santa Monica Yoga said his philosophy about supporting local charities is if they are going to support something, it might as well be local. That philosophy extends to buying local, too. He enjoys helping local Santa Monica businesses, because he is one. "Many of the products we sell are from local companies, including clothing from Hard Tail, Allen Allen and Onzie; yoga mats from Manduka and YogaRat; and a local supplier for bolsters and cushions. I also get flowers every week from the Wednesday farmer's market to put in our window," he said.
"I enjoy supporting local non-profits like Westside Family Health Center, because they are my neighbor and they promote the health of the community. Yoga is very much connected to people's health because it helps reduce the stress in their lives, and that is important to me. I enjoy being able to connect people who want to help, such as my Santa Monica Yoga customers to opportunities to give back to those who need it most."
Shaka Shack is also supporting the event.
Owners Michael Anapol and Kathie Gibboney said the business participates out of a sense of personal responsibility.
"I'm a giving person, and my wife is even more generous than I am," said Anapol. "This is a family business and we try to run it that way."
Anapol said he tries to give his business to other local businesses.
"I try to go to a different, local coffee shop every afternoon, so I can spread my business around Santa Monica," Anapol said.
Participating Ocean Park businesses include:
ARTFUL - 1726 Ocean Park Blvd.
Artful will have sale tables set up outside the store each day of the Buy Local Week and will donate 10 percent of sale proceeds.
Bob's Market - 1650 Ocean Park Blvd.
Bob's Market will donate during Buy Local Week.
Brooke Rodd - 1716 1/2 Ocean Park Blvd.
Will donate 5 percent of sales proceeds from all summer, red lined merchandise purchased during Buy Local, Give Local Week.
Give + Take - 1740 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite A
Will donate 5 percent of sales proceeds this week.
GOODs - 1748 Ocean Park Blvd.
Will donate 5 percent of sales proceeds this week.
Laura Korman Gallery - 2525 Michigan Avenue, D-2
Will donate 2 percent of sales during Buy Local, Give Local Week.
Love Coffee Bar - 1732 Ocean Park Blvd.
Will donate 5 percent of sales proceeds that week and will create a specialty beverage for Buy Local, Give Local Week.
rumba / Kimba Hills Design - 1740 Ocean Park Blvd. #C
Will donate sales proceeds during this week on the following items: 1) 10 percent from the sale of the rumba storefront window-featured item: An original Frank Lloyd Wright Table; and 2) rumba featured artists/ designers will donate 10 percent of the sales during the week: Fiona Pattinson, Moye Thompson Ceramics and Suzanne Wilson Designs
Santa Monica Yoga - 1640 Ocean Park Blvd.
Fall Clothing Sale + Fundraiser (9/10-9/13) in support of the Westside Family Health Center.
Shaka Shack Burgers - 1701 Ocean Park Blvd.
They are creating a special "clinic burger" for the week and will be donating a portion of the week's sales.
The Hairbrains - 1718 Ocean Park Blvd.
Will donate $2 from every hair care product purchased during Buy Local, Give Local Week.
The Sofa Company - 2316 Lincoln Blvd.
Will offer customers $100 off their order for every donation of $25 to the Westside Family Health Center during Buy Local, Give Local Week.
editor@www.smdp.com
