The November Second Saturday in Bay St. Louis had some multi-tasking do. It was the kick-off to the Shop Local event, and some items couldn’t fit into a bag.
Real estate agents sponsored a tour of homes as part of the event that doubled as a fundraiser for the Hancock County Food Pantry.
“It’s great. You know, there are so many times where you want to give and do things for the community, but you don’t know what’s out there and what you’re able to do,” said Betsy Montjoy of Coldwell Banker Alfonso Realty. “This is opening people’s eyes and letting them know, bringing awareness to everybody, including myself.”
Realtors Herbert Dubuisson and Steve Haas created the home tour, along with the Hancock Chamber and Old Town Merchants.
Realtors and owners will donate 1 pound of turkey to the pantry for every person who toured each house.
Bay St. Louis is a favorite getaway spot for the Gavin family of Hattiesburg. Enough so, that a second home in the area may be on the agenda.
The day combined everything Roy Gavin says is good about the city.
“I think it really accentuates what you have to offer here,” Roy said. “People from outside the city don’t know what you have often times, and come here, walking around, seeing the shops, seeing the community. It really adds to it and kind of draws you in.”
His wife, Dana Gavin, says Shop Local is an added bonus.
“I think that’s an advantage of the smaller towns that they really like to reinvest back into their own personal community,” Dana said. “Instead of branching out, everyone going to the big cities or big towns of the state, you can still shop local and give back to your own community.”
During the holiday season, anybody can drop off donations or canned goods at any of the Old Town businesses.
And, at the same time, the multi-purpose event is helping business, which is as good or better than last year at Social Chair on Main Street.
“Everything comes together,” said Jackie Kidd of Social Chair, owned by Yuki Northington. “We support one another. If they can’t find something wonderful here, we send them down the street to another shop. Everybody works together. It’s a little town, but it has big ideas.”
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