According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, eight out of 10 small businesses nationally believe in giving back to their local community. That includes donating to charities, sponsoring or donating goods/services to local events and discounts for certain groups within the community such as teachers and veterans.

Often times, the charitable giving by these small businesses receive little recognition. However, inside last Tuesday’s edition of the Independent, a 44-page special section puts the spotlight on 20 small businesses for their generosity toward the communities they serve.

Take Bisbee Plumbing in Marshall for instance. They are in business to provide plumbing and heating services to Marshall and the surrounding area. But did you know they play an important role in the education of future plumbers and technicians? According to the company’s president, Scott Williams, Bisbee has been offering opportunities to high school and technical students who want to pursue a career in trades such as plumbing through experience and tuition reimbursement.

The company also donates to various community causes.

“Everybody in the community knows if it involves kids and cancer, we are usually involved,” Williams said.

In Wood Lake, Mike Imes of Imes Insurance Agency coaches the Lakeview girls’ basketball team and “being involved with anything needed in town.”

Meanwhile, in Wabasso, Jim and Holden Salfer believe providing services involves more than helping customers who shop in their grocery store. They believe in supporting their community. The Salfers deliver bread and milk to the schools and customers who are homebound or in assisted living. They also donate bundles of meat for raffles at area nonprofit fundraisers.

In Granite Falls, Melissa Syring says she has a soft spot for people who are going through hard times.

“If I said it once, I said it 100 times. God has blessed me so I can bless others,” Syring was quoted in the section. She is known to put together a basket full of items from the Falls Boutique for silent auctions that benefit cancer patients, house fire victims and other people needing help.

And then there is Jim’s Clothing in Dawson. Like a lot of small retail businesses, Jim’s Clothing is approached by many school groups and organizations during the year asking to support fundraisers, benefits and memorials.

“We support them all,” owner Jordan Tollakson was quoted in the section. “We try to give more than we take.”

The Independent realizes there many more examples in southwest Minnesota when it comes to “giving more than we take” philosophy by small businesses. And the Independent salutes them as well.

Their giving is another big reason why it’s so important to shop local.