CHEHALIS – Thanksgiving on this special holiday and throughout the year when those that are able, give to those most in need in our community. It’s a true gesture of giving thanks. Last night at the Lewis County Mall, the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director Alicia Bull, members of the Chamber Executive Board, God’s Portion Food Bank and Lund Trucking gathered to give away gift bags and food boxes. Bull says what was given to those in need were “bags full of local discounts, different goodies and fun prizes given away randomly.” The Chamber also promoted “Choose Local First” which Bull says is getting holiday shoppers “to think about services, gift giving that might not be traditional retail and to look local first” to visit local merchants or “to jump on the computer and do your shopping.” She suggests, “choose local first, trying to find an item you’re looking for locally if you can and make the extra effort to purchase things from local businesses.” Bull adds, by shopping local, “it helps infuse our tax base here within our county.” Dozens of local families and children received gifts at the Chamber’s “Choose Local First” Lewis County Mall drive-up. Lund Trucking hauled in pounds of boxed food given by God’s Portion Food Bank in Centralia. Lewis County Commissioner Bobby Jackson publicly thanked Bull, her staff and executive board for what Jackson said was, “bringing a little hope to our community.”