Shop at home - it’s the retail rallying cry of chambers of commerce everywhere.

But it’s also a battle cry we in Stillwater and the surrounding area can embrace in the face of post-Thanksgiving power buying.

Our nation’s economy is in a black hole this holiday shopping season and what hurts our nation filters down to us at the state and local level. Businesses close. Jobs go away.

Economists might tell us the answer is to spend. We in Oklahoma are bound to take a more conservative approach. But what we do feel comfortable spending this Christmas shopping season we should consider spending with our local neighbors in our local businesses.

These are the businesses where we all work. They are the folks who support our United Way and our Relay for Life. These are the people who step up to buy ads in the area high school football programs and who donate to student club fundraisers.

And where does your money go after it leaves your pocket for a Stillwater merchant’s cash drawer?

A percentage goes to fund city government - you didn’t really think the price you pay to cool off your kids in the pool in summer and the fine you pay on an overdue library book actually funded those services in full, did you?

Our city sales tax pays for street repairs, fire service, police protection, emergency medical service.

A percentage of the price of that Christmas sweater or iPod or camera on your list goes to pay the salaries of your neighbors who work in retail establishments here in our town. From their pocket a few dollars will go to the grocery store - more city sales tax revenue. A portion will be spent to grab a burger - tips in a college kid’s pocket, more salaries, more tax revenue.

By the time that dollar ends its journey it will have made a local impact equal to several dollars.

No one can be faulted for wanting the best deal on the best choice, especially when we are stretching budgets and being more discriminating in our spending. But who says you can’t fill your list in Stillwater? You won’t know if you don’t check it out.

A letter today notes that a reader is unhappy because Stillwater’s Jingle Bell Sweepstakes drawing and the graduation ceremony for three of Oklahoma State’s colleges are scheduled at the same time. Frustrating when you want to win $10,000 and see someone graduate, too.

But we are disheartened by her reaction, “ I will do all of my shopping out of town this year.”

We ask please reconsider, dear reader. The benefit of local spending stretches far beyond a holiday giveaway. You won’t find a mall in Oklahoma City or Tulsa that supports your community like our local merchants.

Shopping at home isn’t about winning $10,000. It’s about stepping up to help each other as a community in a time when our best chance at survival is as a team.