"Sometimes it's the smallest decision that can change your life [or community] forever."
Buy local. It may sound easy, but 80% of your daily purchases are not from locally owned and operated businesses. If everyone makes an effort to buy locally 20% more, I can guarantee a boost in the area's economic stability. YOU can have a direct impact on the health of this economy. Choose to eat lunch at Bogies instead of Applebee's, fill up your tank at Woodson's Marathon instead of Sheetz, shop at Old Dutch instead of Foodlion, Piggly Wiggly instead of Walmart, order your company's snack tray from Midtown Market instead of Sam's Club, check out FishBones Seafood Market and cook at home instead of going to Red Lobster, order promotional items or business cards from Captain Copy instead of some website you found, go see the folks at the Invitation Destination about making your birthday or wedding invitations instead of ordering them online.
Seek Culture. A common complaint I hear is that "There's nothing to do in Danville." Danville has many cultural activities to offer, but you do have to hunt and seek them out. Sure, they may be occasional instead of something to do all the time, but unless we can prove that we can pack a house, no person in their right mind is going to choose Danville over Greensboro or Lynchburg to bring a cultural exhibit. There are oodles of fine arts performance agencies in the area: DMR Adventures, Little Theatre of Danville, Danville Concert Association, The Prizery in South Boston, Danville Area Assocation for the Arts and Humanities, Theatre Guild of Rockingham County, Galileo Theatre Guild, GWHS Theatre, just to name a few. So, the next time you're looking for something to do - skip the movie theatre and go to a performance and support local cultural activities.
Use Existing Resources. Danville has tons of grassroots organizations, government organizations, and non-profit organizations that are there to HELP the community. Use them! The more they can show they've helped the community, the more funding they can get to help the community further!
Volunteer. I think you all get it by now - I advocate volunteerism as a way of life. It is my hobby, my passion, where my heart lies. But we need more volunteers in this community. Half of our volutneers are "voluntold" by the court. We all have something we like to do - just figure out how you can use it to help someone else. (hint: The Dan River Center for Voluntarism is a great place to start your search)
Preach Positively. Danville's own citizens can't seem to speak positively about the city that they depend on. Sure, Danville's a little slow now, but if we don't start hyping it up, it will only get slower! When a new business is prospectively looking to move to Danville, one of their first steps is to see what its residents think. With a general negative attitude, we're never going to draw new business. So the next time someone asks you about your hometown, speak up proudly and share your love for Danville.
