Winnebago Buy Local

Hello Friends, Winnebago Buy Local is not back from our indefinite hiatus, however it appears as if our Instagram account was compromised last night and sent some folks some messages that are NOT from us. Please do not click on them or respond to them while we get this resolved. Thank you very much.

Letter from Lauren V. Davis
(President of Winnebago Buy Local)
Dear Winnebago Buy Local Member,

Winnebago Buy Local began in 2010 with an idea and a round table of local business owners back when no one was talking about the importance of local businesses. Through the years it became such a deep rooted passion of mine and others and that passion hasn’t gone away, not even a morsel of it has left me.

As we grew and developed I saw how we made a positive impact on local business owners and the community. We saw businesses live to see another year, and then 10 more years. We saw the community rally around events to help raise awareness of buying local. We saw the way Rockford and Winnebago County showed up. Now it is time to pass the torch as we take an indefinite pause.

Although it was a majority decision, it was still a hard one to make as a board. We all agreed on one thing. We exceeded our mission year after year again to the extent of our grassroots resources, and we love our community, love our local businesses, and our passion hasn’t changed. We all believe there is more work to be done and none of us feel like the mission is over.

While this might be goodbye to Winnebago Buy Local as you know it right now, we do not feel it is the *end* as much as the beginning and freedom to build new opportunities for local business owners in our community. In all the ways you see local businesses establishing new roots, standing together collaborating, you see that nothing, truly, is going away.

Winnebago County business owners have a grit that cannot be contained or put to rest. What will come in the future will be new and exciting. We can’t wait to see what happens when local business owners put their heads together.

Lastly & Most Importantly
I would like to thank the volunteers who have served throughout the years and particularly the board members past and present who volunteered hours upon hours to the mission of Winnebago Buy Local. This group was built on the backs of volunteers. Every minute of every single thing that happened over 13 years within this organization was volunteer work. Every event. Every opportunity. Every meeting. Without the board members this organization wouldn’t have been able to accomplish everything it did. Thank you to our volunteers throughout the years, and to our present board members for the seemingly infinite hours of support:

Jacob Bradt, Joshua Binning, Kate Wirth, Julie Borck, Kristan McNames, Cindy Dimke, Jon Weber, Skyler Davis

I would also like to thank the members of WBL for showing up to every meeting, filling our events, and participating in every way you could even through some of the roughest years in your business, the pandemic, snow storms, heat waves, and more. Winnebago Buy Local doesn’t exist without you, and we recognize that our success is due to how you believe in our mission with us.

We can’t wait to see what you can do!

Sincerely,
Lauren V. Davis

Winnebago Buy Local to cease operations, hopes to see others carry on its mission By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A grassroots coalition that has worked for 13 years to encourage shoppers to support local businesses is indefinitely ending its official operations. Winnebago Buy Local

Remembering and honoring those who served our country on Memorial Day.

Did you know a 10% shift in how you spend can make a HUGE difference when combined with the efforts of others? BUY LOCAL and ask yourself next time you need to buy something.... “can I buy this locally?”

Choosing to shop small makes a big difference in our community! Share if you agree!

When you shop, dine at, or support local businesses, you are keeping our community strong and helping it grow. Let's keep it local!

Thank you for supporting local businesses! Did you know there are over 1000 LOCALLY OWNED businesses in Winnebago County? It is so important for our community and we love your support, so from the bottom of our hearts -- THANK YOU!!

Find a directory of Local businesses at www.winnebagobuylocal.com

May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road downhill all the way to your door.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Winnebago Buy Local!

Buy Local! Who are you supporting this week, and WHY do you love their local business?

When you choose to buy local, you are keeping our community thriving. This is important now more than ever. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. Find a directory of Local businesses at www.winnebagobuylocal.com

Making the choice to support local is so important for our community. It truly is a choice and WE LOVE when you support local. THANK YOU!

This short checklist might not seem like much, but following and supporting small businesses on social media is so important! When you see them post, let them know how much you care by running through this checklist. It truly helps!